Tuesday, December 4th -- Strikers return to News Corp/Fox at Sixth Avenue and 48th Street "to call attention to the fact that News Corp-owned MySpace TV is in town this week listening to pitches for new shows for its website. Expanding WGA jurisdiction in new media, such as MySpace programming, and fairly compensating writers for their work in New Media are key issues in the contract negotiations." 10 AM to 2 PM.
Wednesday, December 5th -- Strikers return to the site of their first day of picketing, Rockefeller Plaza and NBC at 49th Street just west of the Xmas tree and skating rink. 10 AM to 2 PM.
Thursday, December 6th -- Strikers picket HBO at Sixth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets for the first time. 10 AM to 2 PM.
Does 4 hours of picketing at select locations even have an effect? Not sure why they are going to the bother, that’s not going to affect anything…
Comment by JustWondering — December 2, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Hey JustWondering — there aren’t enough guild members in NYC to really shut down production anywhere (plus, it’s mostly corporate offices here on the east coast), but we’re hitting the picket lines to show solidarity with our west coast brethren and get the word out to tourists and New Yorkers alike about the strike. People pause on the street and talk to us, and begin to associate faces to the shows they enjoy every week (or, in the case of the late night writers, every night). They understand what a human endeavor this is, and how we’re not big shots or multimillionaires — we’re Joe Schmoes trying to make our little piece of New York a little more bearable. I’ve handed out thousands (no exaggeration) of leaflets over the past four weeks, and if even a small percentage of those get read and influence someone to take some kind of action to support the writers, or even just inform them about the strike, then we’re doing what matters.
So no, we don’t have an effect on production or day-to-day dealings. We have an effect on public opinion. Which, in my opinion, is the biggest effect of all.
Comment by Your Kid at NYU — December 2, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Dear Just Wondering,
Who are you? Are you really just wondering, or are you trying to foment anxiety?
Sincerely just wondering
PS — When the entire writing staffs of SNL, Letterman, Colbert, Conan, LOCI, Stewart, plus two hundred other screenwriters, soap writers, playwrights, and comedy writers picket, yeah, it makes an impression. Tom Fontana, Peter Hedges, Tony Kushner, Adam Brooks, Delia Ephron, Alan Zweibel, Warren Leight, Tina Fey, Rene Balcer, Theresa Rebeck,Marsha Norman, Eric Overmyer, Kevin Wade, Robbie Baitz, and so on and so on. It has an effect (not affect, by the way — why can’t any of you trolls spell?)
Comment by Anonymous — December 2, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Dear Just Wondering,
You IDIOT!!! This is the best networking opportunity EVER!!! Consider these 4 hours stints as the ultimate cocktail party. When else are any of the above mentioned writers going to be in one place, nevermind giving you the time of day? Shut your damn mouth and go support your fellow bretheren. Who knows? You might wind up with a job when this all blows over.
Comment by joe somebody — December 3, 2007 @ 6:53 am
I have absolutely nothing to do with the WGA, but, if I had the time, I’d go picket with the WGAE, because, really, they’re fighting for the rights not just of WGA members, but, really, of all creators of Web content, and, ultimately, of all workers who do Web work.
Someday, most work may be Web work, so it’s important to establish the precedent now that Web work is real work and ought to be compensated as such.
Comment by a wife — December 3, 2007 @ 7:56 am
I’m a SAG member and plan on hitting the picket lines for the first time this week. What is happening with the WGA negotiation will be happening to us in June. We must face of this corporatocracy together .
Comment by SAG guy — December 3, 2007 @ 11:09 am