(Keep refreshing for latest: I'm also going to update On the Line: Day 3)
--> See my news and analysis: Networks/Studios vs TV Showrunners: Why They're Now On A Collision Course, which is completed.
--->ABC's Big Shots is wrapping. I understand production was told today they would not be coming back after the strike. Not surprising because it was stillborn ratings-wise.
-->There's a widely circulating rumor that a very famous producer is flying in scab writers from the UK to work on his "bloody" TV hourlong. And that, in gratitude, a certain network gave the show a back 9 order. 
I heard the producer put out blue pages on the show and told crew that the next entirely new
script was forthcoming. Some on the picket line encountered the showrunner who confirmed that non-union people were being hired. I'm trying to confirm so I can name names.
--> Photo of ER staff including cast along with all of the writers, including John Wells, chanting: "We need our writers, STAT! We don't really talk like that!"
--> Also, a Warner Bros worker arriving on the lot was told by security this morning to take down a sign she had in her car -- "I support the writers in the WGA strike!". The guard threatened to call Operations. Not sure what that would mean, but it does sound ominous.
--> Reports that Disney has "let go" all the interns in their diversity writer's program. Help me confirm.
-->A WGAW'er living on the East Coast was handing out leaflets at the Time Warner building protest when approached by an overweight guy with a gym bag:
HIM: "Is Laura here?"
ME: "Who's Laura?"
HIM: "Your Guild President."
ME: "I'm Guild West. How do you know Laura?"
HIM: "I'm a labor attorney for CBS. See you in April."
-->The WGA is organizing a noisy humongous protest at Fox Plaza in Century City on Friday, with 3,000 pickets expected to walk the line en masse between 10 AM and 12 Noon. Speakers will include: WGAW President Patric M. Verrone, and Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg. Singer-activist Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, AudioSlave) will also perform an acoustic mini-set.
-->Meanwhile, it's hilarous how all the strikers buzz that "the really cool people" are picketing Fox. "It's where it's happening," said a writer using a phrase I haven't heard since J.J. Walker and Good Times went off the air. It's all because Fox is so geographically desirable Westside. But the questions I'm being most asked by writers with development deals there is, Does this mean that Alex Young is going to stop rewriting scripts? And shouldn't this co-prez of production be out on the line striking himself?
---> It's also amusing how the "name" writers are like rock stars on the line. For instance, Jorge Reyes, the creator of Kevin Hill, emailed me that at CBS Television City he saw Matthew Weiner, creator of AMC's Mad Men.
"In the weeks before the strike began, I was buried in the lab working on a pilot for NBC. As I often do, while writing, I have great television shows playing in the background. It is my half-assed theory that having excellence around you hopefully raises my own watermark of quality. It doesn't get higher than Mad Men for me. I think it's brilliant, and in my opinion, the best show on the air. I have seen every episode of this show umpteen times, marveling, SHARING it with people, because it reminds me of why I became a writer in the first place. (It is not the only show I feel this about.) I got out of the car today, saw Matthew, made myself introduce myself. I was actually nervous. Turns out we have a connection -- one of the series regulars on his show was on mine. We went on about her amazing talent. And by golly, he'd seen my show too. Then all my cool guy shit went out the window. I told him how much his show meant to me. That his work inspires me. Hopefully I didn't embarrass him too much. He was so gracious -- told me I'd made his day. What I forgot to tell him is that he made mine. It was nice, if only for a moment, to remember not just the rightiousness of what what we're doing, but the love of what we do."
-->"I'm talking to the parties that are involved because I think it's very important that we settle that as quickly as possible, because it has a tremendous economic impact on our state," backchannelling Schwarzenegger said during a news conference today. "That's the sad story, because the studio executives are not going to suffer, the union leaders are not going to suffer, the writers that are striking, they are not going to suffer. Those are all people that have money." Read this open letter to him on HuffPo re the strike.
--> I'm told that the Hollywood/Big Media moguls were pissed as hell that Barack Obama got out in front of the other Democratic presidential candidates and issued what they considered "a totally knee-jerk response" taking the writers' side. And they let him know it, too. I can't believe the CEOs are naive enough to think that just because they've been hosting political fundraisers and giving donations to him that gives them any clout. UPDATE: Obama's LA staff and volunteers will be joining the strikers tomorrow.
--> CAA's turn to visit clients on the picket lines. Agents and trainees left The Mausoleum and brought hot chocolate and cake (let them eat cake!) and also actually walked around and around with the strikers and even held signs. The CAA'ers fanned all over town. Their clients agreed it was pretty awesome. (By the way, I'll have the results of the Endeavor agent caption contest tomorrow, so stay tuned. Hilarious entries!)
-->Edward Allen Bernero, Executive Producer of Criminal Minds, today gave fans of his show an exclusive letter explaining why he and his writers went on strike. "The Criminal Minds writers all want to work. We love this show as much as you do and we feel a huge obligation to all of you to keep making it. Other showrunners love their fans and their shows. None of us want this. Not one of us. But, understand, we simply CAN NOT accept this proposal. It kills our industry now and for the future. So, if Criminal Minds runs out of new episodes, we’re sorry. Extremely sorry. We already miss the writing room, already miss playing with the characters, already miss working with the most amazing crew in television. We will miss reading your comments on this site and the others all over the web. We will miss the real feeling of community we have with you all. But being sorry to all of you doesn’t mean a lack of resolve. This choice was made for us but we will see it through."
-->There's a fan-generation petition online in support of the WGA writers "stated goals of obtaining just and fair compensation regarding revenues generated through New Media" that already has generated 7,643 signatures since going up around 12 Noon.
-->Soap opera sources tell me that the soaps continue production during a strike even after they’ve run out of Guild-covered scripts by hiring new writers for the duration (and protect their anonymity so there are no repercussions against them). But this time out there seems to be a new wrinkle. Word is ABC, which owns all the soaps it airs, is sending notices to its writers advising them to elect Financial Core status with the Guild and return to work -- or their jobs might not be available when the strike is over.
-->Tonight there was a dramatic WGA protest continuing since early today as chanting picketers try to shut down production on a DreamWorks movie. And picketers from radford shut down a Scrubs location shoot today in North Hollywood. No LA exterior shoots will be safe until the strike is over.
The above photo is of Jenny Bicks, creator/showrunner of ABC's Men In Trees (one of my favorite shows thanks to McFreezy), with fellow writer Cindy Chupack. Apparently, their lemonade stand at Raleigh Studios was a hit: KNBC anchor Paul Moyer just talked about it live on the air...
This T-shirt was hastily made by SAG board member Terrence Beasor:
The DreamWorks movie Hotel For Dogs has been shooting on location on Pico Blvd in West LA. Supposedly, the production didn't obtain permits for the sidewalks, so picketers are massing steadily on the street, the corner and the alley around the site and can stay as long as they keep moving. The result is that Hotel For Dogs can't film its scenes inside a pet store there. The production took a break thinking the protesters would leave at 5 PM. But not only have they stayed well past that, their numbers have grown and grown. UPDATE: A Hotel For Dogs picketer there tells me tonight, "Not sure if we impacted the production shooting as much as we would have liked. The teamsters said we weren’t impacting much. I think we annoyed them more than anything. But it made people realize that we aren’t going away, that we’ll target movies shooting, and that we’ll be back to make it worse another day. The police were very cooperative and it was clear that the teamsters were totally on our side."
From one striker: "Here’s a fun thing to do on the picket lines. Take a stopwatch with you and begin timing when you hit the line and see how long it takes before you hear a writer say the following: (see below). Then, stand back and enjoy the irony that the writer is wearing one of those “Comedy Writer” shirts. Yes, it didn’t take long for bits to become “hack” on the sidewalks outside studios:
a. Utter “Can we punch up this sign/slogan/contract?”
b. Pretend to get a cellphone call and say, “What’s that?! The strike’s over?! Guess I’d better go home!”
c. Pretend to get a cellphone call and say, “What’s that, Mom? You fell down and are hurt?! Guess I’d better go home!”
d. Make a prank phone call to a nearby writer, pretending to be a strike captain and asking why he’s not there picketing.
e. Attempt a joke lamenting how the strike is going to get in the way of his/her buying a new pool/car/house for his/her nanny.
WGA East picketed Time Warner today sparking probably the biggest turnout yet. Hundreds of writers were so jammed in the stanchions they weren’t able to actually walk. Dozens of A-List talent turned up throughout the day to show support: David Duchovny, Tim Robbins, Robin Williams, Sam Waterston (second day in a row), Griffin Dunne, Julianne Moore, Rachel Dratch, Joan Allen, Richard Belzer, Joy Behar, Susie Essman, Holly Hunter, Chris Meloni, David Hyde Pierce, Oliver Platt, Randy Quaid, Susan Sarandon, Nora Ephron, and the now daily appearances of the Daily Show writers, the Colbert writers, the Law & Order writers, the Letterman writers, the Conan writers. Tomorrow morning, the protest is at Fox on Sixth Avenue.
From the Time Warner picket line: "Don't Re-Bewkes! Negotiate!"
Seriously, have you tried having a conversation with anyone at a network or studio this week? Even I can hear the noise from the pickets over the phone. It's unreal.
At the Paramount main gate, all of the teamsters trucks honk their horns in support of the pickets. But, occasionally, someone in a car goes by giving them the finger and yelling, "Fuck you, assholes."
The observant Paramount pickets have noticed that the Brinks truck arrive twice a day at 1:30 PM and 4 PM. (I'll avoid the speculation over whether they're carrying the cash from the downloaded residuals that the writers aren't getting.) A few WGA'ers began to plot out aloud The Paramount Job. Of course, there was another school of thought that the trucks are how Brad Grey is getting in and out of the studio every day.
How come the only cartoons I can find are anti-writers?
Production staff at House say they have one more script that they will be shooting next week. After that, the show will slowly shut down production. Actors and most of the crew will be gone by the end of next week. There are a handful of post production people that will have work until the end of January.
I'm told Tom Lennon and Ben Garant showed up at the CBS TV City picket line yesterday dressed as their Reno 911! characters. They drew a lot of attention, although no one seemed to get a bigger kick out of them than the LAPD.
More reports of assistants getting laid off: the ones on WB shows were let go today, and at Innovative.
Tony Guma, WGAw screenwriter of The Suburbans, shows me he made a new friend walking the line at Paramount:
I hear Breakdown Services is waiving the monthly fee for casting info because of the strike. "Although many agent & manager types may disparage their monopoly, Gary Marsh is really stepping up to the plate this time," a tenpercenter told me.
UPDATE: Bill Lawrence, the showrunner/creator of Scrubs just called me to clarify. I'm filing a separate posting which I'll incorporate here as well. Here's what some writers said who'd just come back from picketing Scrubs: "Strikers were making lots of noise and the teamsters on the location were pissed. Shouting back and forth. Finally, after things got more heated, Bill Lawrence [arrives] and told the picketers that all their noise-making was pointless since Scrubs was shooting inside a soundstage. I guess he realized that sounded kind of asshole-ish so he all 'solidarity-like' told them he was at the Disney picket and how he supports the strike."
Photo of Ken Jenkins ("Dr. Kelso"), Zach Braff ("J.D." and WGA member), Bill Lawrence (creator, executive producer) and Sarah Chalke ("Elliot") of Scrubs. They were on the line late this morning at the Disney Alameda gate supporting the picketers:
Jon Cryer is on the line at Radford; Laura San Giacomo making Starbucks drops.
Outside of Raleigh, reports of pushing. Many stars from Ugly Betty, including Judith Light, and David Krumholtz of Numb3rs.
Chant there: "'Don't be cheap. Don't be petty. Or you won't get your Ugly Betty."
Director and ex-TV showrunner Garry Marshall walked with picketers at Warner Bros today. Chant in his honor: "It was good enough for Happy Days. It was good enough for Laverne & Shirley. Then it's good enough for me."
Medium actors Patricia Arquette & Jake Weber walked the picket line at Raleigh Manhattan Beach. Photo of them with the series' writing staff:
The executive producer of "Monna Vanna", the classic stage play which is set to open in Hollywood later this month, has donated a block of tickets to unemployed, striking writers.
Mad TV, despite a walkout from all of their writers who also have been threatened with legal action, is still in production. I'm told it was supposed to shoot a sketch this
afternoon and was confronted by 30 writers picketing. The writers were able to disrupt the filming of the sketch, and the crew went home. No word if they are still considering to go through with shooting episode 300 this Tuesday.
On the line at Sony this morning, two equipment trucks refused to cross the line (at the Overland gate) and unloaded their equipment on the street. Also, the Culver City police keep saying they'll cite motorists who honk. From an assistant at Sony: "My desk has a window which faces one of the studio gate being picketed behind the Thalberg building on Culver Blvd. Yesterday, I saw the ticketing/honking incident you wrote about. I can tell you that seeing motorists ("innocent bystanders") getting fines for their show of support seems only to have encouraged the picketers to get more people to honk. There's more yelling, more chanting, and more honking going on today than there was yesterday. " And this from a Sony picketer: "What impresses me the most is the number of young, non-WGA writers who are coming out everyday to support the Guild they hope to be a member of someday. We have had these folks every single day at Sony, and is really impressive. I hope they all have long, lucrative careers, at 8 cents a unit."
Picket sign at Fox: "Honk if you're horny for fairness."
When Writers Stop Writing, A Poem by Tony Peyser
The WGA strike concerns many individuals
Concerned about not getting proper residuals.
The studios pout and then yell, “My God!
They want money for shows seen on an iPod?”
The answer to that question I’d have to guess,
Is something along the lines of, “Uh … yes.”
After all, by now it is rather well-known
That people can watch TV on their cell phone.
Besides, these webisodes (which I doubt will be fads)
Often include little things you may know called ads.
Does this fact change the terrain? Yeah, you bet:
They’re already making money on the internet.
The Office staff wrote ten webisodes for gratis
Just plain wrong is the best way to say what that is.
Whoever called these “promotions” didn’t work pro-bono
Asking writers to work for free is your basic no-no.
It’s best to stay out & not let these big issues skate;
They’re what cable & DVDs were back in ‘88.
Just a TV fan from the midwest and I want to try that lemonade. In any case, I just like to say that I don’t really love the lines, but it is the best entertainment we can get from some comedy writers.
Comment by Jessy S. — November 8, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
Knowing what it takes to get information gathered, thoughts organized and then written down, you will emerge from the ashes of this nucclear meltdown a true rock star. The postings you have made, have been the most up to the minute, thoughtful pipeline of information any of us have been able to access during the past weeks. Please keep it up and stay strong!
Comment by A Writer — November 8, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
I really look forward to the moment when I hit refresh and see the title: “STRIKE OVER!”
Just want to echo the many thanks for this site. You’re the best.
Comment by Chad — November 8, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
I am sorry that Mr. Schwarzenegger believes that a strike will not hurt the writers because “they have all the money”. Unlike a studio CEO, I did not make 60 million dollars this. I didn’t make 20,000 dollars this year. And I just walked away from a job because of this strike, and all I can do is walk the picket line and hope that the strike ends before my savings run out. But, hey, at least I got one of those residual checks today that the studio honchos are so convinced I don’t deserve. It was for DVDs I’ve written. It was for twenty dollars.
Comment by Erin — November 8, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Today a bunch of us picketed the movie DOG HOTEL on Pico. None of us liked being there. None of us liked seeing the crew grow increasingly frustrated and talk about their jobs, their families, their right to work. But most of them understood it. Most of them acknowledged we were fighting for what was right. I don’t speak for the entire Writers Guild. I can only speak for myself. But I promise you, the members of that crew and the teamsters everywhere, when your time comes, should you picket and need me to walk the lines with you, I will be there. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for the chocolate cake and the bottled water.
Comment by Thank you Crew Members — November 8, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
Pulling the rug out Sunday night: Very Good.
Shutting down TV series: Very Good.
Shutting down talk shows: Very Good.
Disrupting the studio lots & corporate headquarters: Very Good.
Mandatory registration/Documentation for unfinished studio scripts: Very Good.
“Not A Word” declaration in today’s Variety: Very Good.
Disrupting a DreamWorks movie that was written pre-strike: You just lost me.
Doing that today was wrong. Granted they were filming “Hotel For Dogs” and not “Hotel Rwanda”, but that’s not the point. If something of mine that’s been written pre-strike goes into production, and my fellow union members cause damage of any kind to that movie — something I killed myself on — I’m not in their union anymore. Over and out. And I won’t be the only one.
The outcome of our strike ought not to be a busted union. Although, I imagine the studios wouldn’t mind.
Comment by Mike E.B — November 8, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
This strike is beginning to take on a larger meaning for the general public. It has sparked a nationwide discussion on the importance (or lack thereof) of unions and corporate greed and domination. The added cache of top-name celebs and writers joining the picket lines is fueling the discussion even more. And it is spreading like wildfire on the internet.
Comment by zagyzebra — November 8, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
I am sorry but I really felt the need to vent and this seems to be the best place to do so.
Does anyone believe that this strike will be settled by anyone but a person with strong character and even stronger convictions? As I believe Nikki has mentioned before, what is lacking here is a middle-man who has the cache in Hollywood to make the two sides listen, the negotiating talent to garner credibility and the fortitude to insert themself into the fight whether the two sides want them to or not. Unfortunately, the only viable option I see at the moment is Schwarzenegger. I think he has the cache, and the negotiating talent but lacks the fortitude. However, I don’t see anyone else that carries even those two atributes.
His half-assed approach to this point is sickening. This business has been too good to him for him not to do all he can. He owes both sides and they owe him for careers that many of them both enjoy. So why is he playing coy? Why is he essentially sitting on the sidelines? This whole debacle is not just killing the obvious people. It’s eventually going to kill people like myself. The clerical, computer and run of the mill people who will eventually feel the pinch of this mess. He as a responsibility to do ALL he can to step in and bring this crap to an end.
PLEASE Mr. Governor, get up off your ass and use the leverage you have to kick start the negotiations. I agree with Nikki that top line talent has the ability to fill some of this void. However, you sir are the Governor and have a unique position that allows you to do even more than Adam and Tom and Tom and the like can. Not to mention, you sir are the Chief Executive Officer of this state and that alone leaves you with a moral responsibility to bash some heads and do what you can to save all of us from oblivion.
DO SOMETHING YOU LOUT!!!
Hooper
Comment by Hooper — November 8, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
I really like how all these showrunners are making statements not only that they want to get back to writing, but directed at their fans.
Comment by Danny Cohen — November 8, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
I work for a major network in the online marketing dept. I deal with reaching out to the fans on behalf of my shows every day. This strike means nothing to the public at large, and this is where the writers can use their influence over than the studios. By communicating directly on blogs, like Ed Bernero and Joss Whedon have been doing, the viewers get to hear in plain language what is really going on with this strike from someone whose views they value vs. what the majors are spinning in the media with their PR budgets. The Office writers’ youtube clips have also conveyed this. More showrunners and actors with huge fanbases need to get online and spread the message. Encourage users to write/email/call/complain to the studios. Urge fans to not use corporate TV sites or buoy sponsors paying for the new media (and yes, they are paying and it’s been growing exponentially every quarter). Anything — just leverage your fans and promise to pay them back with quality shows once the strike is over.
Comment by fan of good tv — November 8, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
It amazing how single-handedly, you destroyed many people’s faith in Variety and the Reporter. Nobody I know bothers to read their strike coverage. Your one woman operation has shamed their writing staffs. Bravo. I can’t wait to see how you grow after the strike.
Comment by Writer/Director — November 8, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Just another reason to support Senator Obama in his quest to become the ultra hyphenate, writer-president.
Comment by Ben — November 8, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
I have to agree with Erin that it’s not very fair to lump the writers with the Richie Riches of the world as most writers are middle class and struggling to stay there.
But hey, if Arnold is getting involved that’s a good thing. Anything that shortens the strike and gets writers a fair deal and back to work is a good thing.
Comment by Mr. Wants a Fairs Deal — November 8, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
Word on the street is that within the next two weeks the late night talk show hosts are going to start showing up for work. They won’t have writers but, none-the-less, should we nip this in the bud somehow? It’s not going to help our cause. The only upside is that they’ll make fun of the producers and execs on the air, especially Letterman.
Comment by Anonymous — November 8, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
I have been picketing at Fox and I would say that if we are the cool people, the guild is in deep trouble, cool-wise.
Comment by Dave — November 8, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
“The writers that are striking, they aren’t going to suffer”? Wow. Way to doom your intervention from the outset. It’s a Guild where half the members don’t even make the $31,000 a year to be eligible for health care, but Schwarzenegger apparently thinks we’re all James Cameron.
A lot of us are making sacrifices for this strike, and if Schwarzenegger doesn’t even understand that basic fact, he has no business getting involved.
Comment by T. — November 9, 2007 @ 12:15 am
I’m non-Union. Working very hard to do the same as so many people here. And just as I get a foot out the door to join the line, I read a post by a WGA writer who sold a tv pitch and spec, complaing that he/she only has 6 months of savings. A post that, ironically, lambasts the Govn’r for saying writers are wealthy, etc. Look, I know most WGA writers aren’t sitting pretty, but hell, be aware who you’re posting audience may be and save the bragging for your relatives. I’ll be out on the line next week to support, no matter.
Comment by Honesty — November 9, 2007 @ 12:16 am
Mike E.B., are you kidding me? Are we supposed to wait until Fall 2008 to disrupt film shoots?! Hey, my showrunner, after 22 years as a writer, finally has the first series he’s created on the air, but next week’s airing is our last episode because of the strike. Should we all turn scab and keep writing & producing episodes because he “killed himself” over this show? He’s not. Losing a day of production won’t stop any one movie from getting finished, but my series was shut down on 11/2 as soon as the strike was announced. If hurting the studios financially is the only way to get them back to do some real, fair bargaining, then that’s the way it has to be. Screenwriters and TV writers are all in this together.
Comment by 13yearsworkingwriter — November 9, 2007 @ 12:26 am
Mike, the extire concept of a strike is that it’s a work stoppage. The studios have been stockpiling scripts, and if work is going to go on as usual there is no incentive to settle. This will drag on forever. It sucks for everyone who is involved in an active production, but this is the only leverage we have.
Frankly, a picket line is a picket line. If the A list actors from SAG refused to cross, that would really put pressure on the producers.
Comment by Gameup — November 9, 2007 @ 1:26 am
Not Hypothetical
I’m a US citizen living and working in Europe. I’m a writer-director, not a member of WGA and have my first feature set to shoot in Europe early ‘08. My production is non guild and most of my financing is from a well known US based production company. If the producers ask me for a polish and I do it, am I a scab?
Comment by Firstimer — November 9, 2007 @ 3:18 am
this UK writers thing, tell me more
Comment by wamdue — November 9, 2007 @ 3:37 am
Nobody is mentioning the real reason our governor is not getting involved whole-heartedly. He’s on the studio’s side. Those are his real friends. They made him a star, They made him rich. They made him Governor. He will not let them down.
Comment by Junebug — November 9, 2007 @ 7:16 am
I think the WGA bashers here and elsewhere are mixing the payscale issue up with the Web world issue.
Say, for the sake of argument, that the production companies can show that they’re going broke. Then it might be reasonable for them to ask the WGA and other unions for payscale concessions.
But, even if the production companies really turned out to be going broke, that would be no reason to keep all of the WGA’s non-monetary rules (e.g., the ones governing credits)off the Web. Credit stealing is credit stealing, whether the medium in question is film, TV, a DVD, a Webcast, or stone tablets chiseled in Akkadian cuniform.
Along the same lines: if the reality is that production companies can’t pay for Web and DVD writing now because the Web efforts are eating up the revenue from the DVD releases, well, that’s life.
But an easy way to deal with that issue would be to find a good digital entertainment revenue benchmark — e.g., DVD sales revenue plus Web TV and film downloading revenue — and peg the writers’ Web pay to the performance of that benchmark. The writers would share in the producers’ misery today, but they later would share in the gains if the Web ever becomes a better vehicle for selling entertainment.
The writers and producers might end up fighting over the benchmark, but at least they would be recognizing the basic principle that the folks on the other side also need to make money.
Comment by a spouse — November 9, 2007 @ 7:48 am
To my colleagues Gameup & 13yearsworkingwriter:
Television is a hands-on writing medium up until the final cut. Most filmmaking isn’t. I’ve done/do both. Suppose this all went down last year and we were screwing up the shoot of “American Gangster” — an on again/off again picture that Steve Zaillian struggled with for years — do you think he’d have been as keen to sign yesterday’s Variety notice? How do you think Ridley Scott would feel about the WGA?
What if it were “Michael Clayton”? Would you have been out terrorizing Tony Gilroy’s New York shoot — with his precious handful of days to get all that work done? Yeah, that was a studio movie, but you know what? Unless it’s “Harry Potter” or “Star Trek”, they’re all independently financed movies nowadays, regardless of who’s putting them out. Filmmakers aren’t writing anymore, they’re shooting and will be shooting up until the DGA strike — shooting projects that took many years to bring to fruition.
So, what I’m saying is, we ought to pick our battles. Because once we start to lose our own — and they will be the ones with the juice: Game over.
Comment by Mike E. B. — November 9, 2007 @ 8:16 am
shame on culver city police for ticketing honkers, eerily fascist
free speech
police are a strong union, when they come around asking for donations or support, thumb your nose and laugh in their face
boycott culver city
Comment by Producers with conscience — November 9, 2007 @ 8:19 am
Striking WGA writers who would like a ticket to the Monna Vanna production mentioned in this post (opening at the Stella Adler on the 29th) can visit http://tinyurl.com/2jushp for more information about the play and for contact information to reserve a ticket. Why are we donating tickets to writers? Because the story is still the thing. Given that writers may have some extra free time on their hands of the evenings, we think that there could be no better way to make use of some of that time than to take in and experience one of the greatest dramas ever penned. Our hope is that writers may be inspired by the play to reach for higher heights in their own writing when they return to work. Monna Vanna, written in 1902 by Nobel laureate Maurice Maeterlinck, was played on every important stage in Europe, expect in England, where it was censored. The work was described by Ayn Rand as “one of the greatest plays in all world literature.”
Comment by Quent Cordair — November 9, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Picketing local movie locations is a STUPID IDEA. Get a clue, WGA. We all understand why you’re picketing from 9-12 and 1-5 — if you don’t, you completely screw the Teamsters and lose their support. Right now, you have a fair amount of support from IA rank and file. Want to lose that?
Location shooting that’s disrupted is just going to be moved out of Los Angeles. There’s already enough runaway production. Remember, these films won’t be released for 6-9 months at best, so won’t have any effect on the strike unless this is the longest strike in entertainment history. This isn’t like the showrunners walking out — their shows aren’t going to be sent somewhere else, and the pinch if felt NOW.
But as soon as the WGA starts making it tough for movies to film locally, any filming that’s due to start will simply be rescheduled for North Carolina or Canada. And we all know, when that happens, those jobs usually never come back.
So if you want to really screw with the Teamsters and the IA crews that make these films, and have minimal impact on the studios, keep doing what you did to “Hotel for Dogs.”
Comment by Kevin — November 9, 2007 @ 9:16 am
i work on bros and sisters and we have about 2 more scripts to go then we are done. Our actors have been out there supporting the writers when they aren’t working. But we do have a job for a few more weeks. Thank goodness. Hopefully everything will work out right!
Comment by anon — November 9, 2007 @ 9:18 am
Blowing whistles and banging drums that are frightening innocent dogs is not helping the writers make their point. Also using dogs on the picket lines that are clearly frightened by the whistles and horns is cruel. Its hard to side with the writers when they are using a by any means, including cruelty to animals, approach. As a crew member on Hotel For Dogs, I am appalled by picketers tactics.
Comment by simon — November 9, 2007 @ 9:26 am
MAD TV crew signs at Coldwater and Ventura - at the lodge across from Ralphs.
WEAR RED TO THE RALLY AT FOX!!!!
Comment by Future TV Writer — November 9, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Bring in the Brits! We’ve already had success with their formats. We might as well have success with their writers.
Comment by :) — November 9, 2007 @ 11:30 am
This rally is AMAZING!!!!! The only thing it’s missing is a MINORITY member. I guess the WGA is white jewish men in their forties.
Comment by Minority Writer — November 9, 2007 @ 11:44 am
I agree with Mike - I just do not think that it is fair to shut down production on shows that are scripted before the strike. If you writers had a problem with it, then you should not have sold the scripts pre-strike. There are a lot of people in this city that are suffering a lot more than you are due to this strike, and guess what? When it ends, we are lucky if we get our old jobs back … there is NO benefit to us. So let us hold on to our jobs as long as possible, kthx.
And cut the governor some slack. When he says that the writers won’t suffer, I would take that to mean that you people are choosing to do this, in the hopes of future gains. So overall, you are doing what you feel is in your self-interest. His concern, and rightfully fucking so, is for all the people who you and the studios are both screwing.
Comment by katy — November 9, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Greetings from the East Coast. Great job Nikki - wish someone was covering NY as well as you….. as good as you? I’m obviously not a writer. I’m a TV musician whose contract has been suspended … force mesuir … due to the strike. I wanted to express my personal support and have encouraged my bandmates to do likewise. I know our writers really appreciated my showing up at TimeWarner yesterday. And as it’s getting a bit cold here in NY, I believe all appreciated the 140 or so HandWarmers I passed out.
(Too many doughnuts! Next, maybe I should bring a Cardiologist …. on a Harley)
As to other Union’s support of the writer’s strike. Unions whose members also receive residuals for reuse, new-use, foreign distribution, etc.. They’d better be paying attention and be prepared to pucker up and kiss the WGA’s ass should, or better yet, when this strike wins for them their deserved piece of the “New Media” pie. As a writer walking the NY picket line put it yesterday morning, “We’re the canaries in the mine on this.”
There is both merit and precedent to support the writer’s stance. This “New Media” is just another new-use. The size of the pie as it is today is of no consequence. And believe me, there are, and will be more dollars there. From advertising or subscriptions or both. And please, if anyone has a 3rd alternative, give the Record Biz a heads up. Their hanging on by their fingernails. If the seat falls and they loose their grip …. one more flush and they’re gone.
It’s always going to be “New Media”, “New Technology”. Verizon and AT&T are breathing down the necks of CableVision and TimeWarner Cable. Steve Jobs - genius - is feverishly working on the convergence of PC&TV. “Holly Crap, it’s not Broadcast, it’s not Cable, that’s…. “New Media” … we can’t pay you for THAT”
An example, then I’m done.
Years back I produced some records. The Lawyers, mine and the Record Co.’s, sat down to negotiate how many points I’d get (a tiny percentage of each record sold) “Records-sure. But this New Technology? We’ve spent millions tooling up and we don’t know if there’s any money…if it’s going to fly. We can’t give you points on this. It’s too ……. new”
That “New Technology”? …….. Audio Cassettes.
Comment by THM — November 9, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
I read about various rumours that some network execs were going to fly in British writers to work instead of US ones during the strike. As a member of the TV committee of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain I thought I’d better drop you a line.
The UK Guild has made the risk of strike-breaking very clear both to our members and non-members. We’ve also posted info on various websites, our committee members have been appearing on terrestrial TV news and the newspapers have published our take on it all today.
We’ve made it absolutely loud and clear that if any writer is reckless enough to strike-break, they’ll face a lifetime ban from our sister guild the WGA which means they can’t work in America. Also our Guild, if they find out, is duty-bound to report any strike-breakers to the WGA.
I would be extremely surprised if the networks found anyone in this country that would agree to write over there during a strike. No writer worth their salt would risk it, we’re in negotiations ourselves and apart from anything else, it’s just not terribly British!
Thanks for all the up to date information - you’re doing a great job. As a member of both the Writers’ Guild and British Equity (our “SAG”) I hope there’s a resolution soon not just for the writers but for everyone’s sakes.
All the best,
Susy Kane
Comment by abritabroad — November 9, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Having Jesse Jackson attend the rally was brilliant, it should really further our cause. Next week we should try to get Nelson Mandella. Does anyone know how to get in touch with his people?
Comment by abritabroad — November 9, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
It was nice to see Jesse Jackson attend the Fox parade. Otherwise, I would have been the only black person there.
Comment by a black writer — November 9, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
I wouldn’t get lost in the semantics of attempting use a crystal ball and guess exactly what type revenue stream the future might hold. I would use a legal shotgun and make sure that ANY and ALL current and future sources were targeted, then locked down tight, leaving absolutely no wiggle room allowing anyone in a pinstriped suit to say “well, that wasn’t covered.”
Pb, still concerned about betamax
Comment by pb — November 9, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
I am an actor. I feel for the people trying to work at locations targeting for picketing, it’s distracting and hurtful to the people there who want to do good work. However I don’t think the writers are picketing those locations opposing that the written script is being produced…they want to cost the production money- pure and simple. They want to do this because the point of the strike to hurt the producers. Doing this as strongly, and quickly as possible is their hope for the strike ending.
I am sorry these movies and shoots are suffering, but hopefully the crews and actors understand the picketers are trying to reach those above them. The actors aren’t allowed by SAG to strike themselves and then really settle this thing quickly, but maybe the noise/distraction of the picketing can do something similar. I think the WGA just wants this strike to be effective!
Comment by sympathetic actor — November 9, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
If the actors really want to show solidarity, they should stop giving out coffee and doughnuts and hugs and start dividing up part of their revenue share pie with those that make them stars.
Comment by Movie Mogul — November 9, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
Gee, that’s funny. I could give you a list of the many black writers I saw and talked with at the rally. But I’d hate to interrupt the stream of misinformation and whining with actual facts and statistics.
Comment by Erin — November 9, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
“do you think he’d have been as keen to sign yesterday’s Variety notice?”
Yeah, I do, because it’s not about his personal job prospects, it’s about the principle and doing the right thing for everybody. I’m sure he realizes that. We’d all rather be working, we’re not doing this for our health. We’re doing it for the future of the industry. Every single one of us can come up with a good self serving reason to put our own project over everybody else’s welfare, but we’re not. This is about solidarity, not everyone for him/herself and aren’t I just more of a special snowflake than you. If these guys have any juice, it would be in letting the studios know that they’re not going forward with their project until negociations start up again. If everybody on the A-list did that, game over. But dropping off a nice note, “Production going on as scheduled, but please just consider doing the right thing out of the goodness of your hearts though you have no financial incentive to do so” is probably not going to be an effective strategy. If production goes on as usual, what reason do they have to come back to the table? Temptation Island: The Movie will see them through?
Comment by Gameup — November 10, 2007 @ 12:56 am
I’m still trying to wrap my head around someone having to pay $1200 a month in student loan debt. Considering the many educational opportunities available maybe your poor choice of an overpriced university speaks more about you than you think.
I’m sympathetic to writers because I do believe in many ways you’re not getting your due. However, I also think people should stop blaming others for their own stupid choices and some of these posts really don’t engender much commiseration.
Comment by Tom — November 11, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Disney Television Fellows will have to decide on Monday, November 12th whether to cross picket lines to return to their fellowships (and suffer the ire of the WGA) or comply with the strike rules (and immediately lose their fellowships, salaries and benefits). Rock meet Hard Place.
Disney Feature Fellows will soon learn their fates as well.
Comment by Displaced Disney Fellow — November 11, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I get it. I bash your beloved Arnold, you bash me.
I was just being honest and trying to prove the point that writers (even WORKING writers like myself) are going to be hurt by this.
I’m not going to detail my personal financial situation, but I’m not an idiot. And sorry I called your governor one. And yes, it is my choice to strike, but it’s also the crewmembers choice to take jobs in an industry where they know a strike can occur.
I can not believe the hatred that has been stirred up… on all sides.
But the writers aren’t “screwing” anybody. It’s big business. Take your hatred out on them. We’re the guys stuck in the middle. What are we supposed to do? Take another crap deal so everyone can work? Why is no one bashing Murdoch for making MILLIONS every year and screwing over others for doing it?
The hatred that most of the public (at least the posting public) seems to feel for writers scares me and saddens me. If they aren’t accusing us of being rich cry babies they’re telling us our work is shit.
It will be interesting if people bash SAG this way if and when they go on strike.
Comment by Dana — November 11, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Just hang in there for a while until (gag) the studios run out of scripts and re-runs. There will be something even better out there eventually, where writers will be valued for their craft.
Comment by TTigerX2 — November 12, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
Thank you for maintaining this blog, I read it often and appreciate all that you are doing to keep the info current. I fully support the writers!
Comment by Carrie — November 14, 2007 @ 1:53 pm