Strike, day 38
The main gate at Paramount was more packed than I’ve seen it all strike, and featured some familiar names and faces, both at the podium and in the crowd. Speakers included Howard Rodman, Robin Swicord, Bill Condon, and Harlan Ellison, who filled in for a muted Josh Olson. I wasn’t brave enough to introduce myself to Sarah Silverman, but did get to talk with Iris Yamashita (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Diana Ossana (Brokeback Mountain).
As with most gates, there were a number of blog readers and film students. Thanks for continuing to come out to the lines.
On Monday, I’ll be back at my usual post: 5:30 a.m. at Paramount’s Van Ness gate. That’s the last day of normal studio picketing before the holidays.
Articles
December 15th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Josh Olsen muted? Is it the apocalypse already?
December 15th, 2007 at 3:18 am
Wait, does that mean Craig also banned him in real life?
December 15th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
I just want to go on record as saying that Harlan Ellison is certifiable, but I love his attitude.
And…
Gosh, I hope this isn’t the big plan…
Looks like the WGA leadership has adopted the Craig Mazin Plan of Attack…
the new plan???
and my comment on it (which maybe I’m missing the point, but….)
Yeah, I’m not a big fan of this idea…
December 15th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Hey John, we met at the rally on Thursday at Paramount. Thanks for your inspiring words and your time talking with me! I was the guy who handed you the flyer for my org and website, The Writers’ Building. Did you get the pics I sent you from the rally? I got a couple of Harlan Ellison with his “Nick Counter sleeps with the Fishe$$” sign, and a pixellated one of you giving your speech. Yes, Harlan’s nuts, but we need him on that wall, we want him on that wall, dammit. ;-)
December 15th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
As a British onlooker to all this I got butterflies in my stomach when the news came through that the WGA was going to take this to court.
I’m left wing, politically, and have a horrible sense that the courts of the USA will find against the writers.
I see too many court cases go in favour of the money. I have no sense that we are all equal in the eyes of the law.
I really, really hope I’m wrong.
Good luck WGA x
December 16th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Some reader is going to hate me for this, but: speakers appear “on the podium” not “at the podium.” A podium is a platform on which one puts one’s feet, while standing. I know that most folks think it is a platform on which one places ones notes, while standing. But that’s a lecturn.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
And I thought I was the only anal copy editor who notices that people never know the difference between podium and lectern. Oh, not to be anal again, but it’s spelled with an “e” not a “u” even though one may get lectured from someone standing behind a lectern.
A speaker stands behind a lectern, on a podium or rostrum, or in the pulpit … so sayth The Associated Press style guide, anyhow. Oh, and thanks for standing the line. I may be one of those “future WGA’s” …