Strike, day 32
Picketing at Paramount was unremarkable, but further reinforced my theory that any session is greatly improved by two in-depth conversations. Yesterday, that was with Aaron Peters, with whom I discussed Tom Green, Andy Dick and other MTV personalities, and Tracy, who came all the way from Houston to check out the picket line. That’s dedication, but not nearly as much as Alexa, an aspiring screenwriter (and young mom) who’s been out at Paramount at least 10 times, just because she believes in the cause.
Tonight, I’m loading vans at WGA Headquarters. I have no idea what that will really consist of, but I’m curious to see as many aspects of the process as possible.
There are some special events next week worth noting:
Monday is Star Trek Day at Paramount, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Windsor Gate.
Tuesday is student picket day, with film and screenwriting students joining the picket line at Sony’s Overland Gate from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Since film students are a significant portion of this blog’s readership, I hope to see many of you at the event.
Thursday features an Indie Gate at Paramount, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I’ll be one of the one of the speakers, along with Howard Rodman, Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal, Robin Swicord and others. If you’re an indie writer or director, plan on coming. (And if I know you, plan on getting an email from me reminding you to come.)
I’ll confess that I was mildly skeptical about theme gates when they first started, but it’s been great to mix things up. Going into the strike, I never anticipated how many more writers I would get to know through picketing. Because feature screenwriting is a largely solitary career, there’s not the opportunity to develop colleagues the way you would in other professions — or in television writing, where you have staffs working together. I’m not so Pollyanna-ish to predict that we’ll all stay so tight and supportive once the strike is over. But for now, it’s a nice change.
Articles
December 7th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I’m looking forward to Indie Day. Feature writers as a group (it is after all, all about those TV writers) are virtually ignored during this strike. But indie film writers? C’mon. Some of us (even though we’ve been on the picket line since day one, despite not being in the WGA) don’t even exist in the thought processes of management or labor.
Like I said, I’m looking forward to Thursday at Paramount.
December 7th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Today there was a Reality Writers rally in Burbank. I wonder if WB missed its picketers today. Since you mention Robin Swicord, she was at the Reality Writers rally — I know because I signed in right under her name.
December 7th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
At the rally, Patric Verrone said that yesterday an AMPTP negotiator said that he didn’t understand why the guild didn’t like the DVD deal. That it was a very good deal and we should embrace it with wide open arms.
December 7th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
John,
What do you think of this article from the Huffington Post?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/writers-guild-strike-primb75610.html
If I were in the guild, I’d make sure everyone knew about it and started asking the same question.
Susan
December 7th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Can I put in a plug for a specific Paramount gate? It’s the tiny little one on Van Ness– not where the trucks drive through, but the walk-in checkpoint further up the street. That entrance needs some picketing love. For one thing, there’s more visibility because cars stop at the light facing that entrance.
More importantly– there are TONS of crew members walking in and out- almost nonstop– most of whom were REALLY friendly when I picketed there alone earlier this week. Lots of power-fists “good luck buddy”, “I’m with you”, etc. Almost all IATSE, judging from the T-shirts. If anyone is looking for an opportunity to talk to below-the-line crew, that’s it right there.
I try to cover that gate when I can, but I’m not there constantly so I thought I’d throw it out there. Paramount– especially that gate– used to be insufferably hot. But it’s cooling off now.
Talks just broke off today. Terrible news. But an opportunity to let IATSE know that our fight is their fight as well. There’s a great video on unitedhollywood to that effect. They do get residuals, and gains in WGA residuals are contractually afforded to IATSE’s health and pensions plan. I don’t think many IATSE members know this.
Spread the word. God bless us all, every one.
A Writer
December 7th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
A fix of Susan’s link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/writers-guild-strike-prim_b_75610.html
The “underscore b underscore” dipped into some kinda funky html.
December 8th, 2007 at 12:08 am
So how did the Green/Dick/MTV personalities discussion go?
December 8th, 2007 at 5:14 am
That was the thing I loved about the Austin Film Festival – getting to socialise so much with other writers. Something writers so rarely do. It makes a nice break from sitting in front of the computer screen.
December 8th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Hi John,
Wanted to come picket on Wednesday. Wondering where you were going to be on the 12th?
December 9th, 2007 at 10:47 am
This strike will be a measuring stick for a lot more to come… The world is watching.
Nice that you all can at least enjoy what positives there are to be had. Actually don’t think it would be too Pollyanna to make a new friend or two out of it John. Hope the time on the strike-lines will grow more and more WGA solidarity.
I am still amazed how much of the public STILL thinks the strike is about greed and not fair wages for profits generated. Unfortunately the celeb-virals that are running now do nothing to clear up the message… IMHO the ads have the tone of being very uppity.
Hope talks become on target soon.