I’m a recent college grad that just moved out here to LA. I’ve been looking for a job since the beginning of September with almost no luck at all. I landed a few PA gigs here and there, but they were small and short. Toiling away over Mandy, UTA, and Craigslist was becoming more and more tedious as each day passed.

Just a couple weeks ago, as the strike grew almost inevitable, I lost almost all hope of finding a job in the business. And then, by the grace of God, I got a call back for a PA and shooting job for an entertainment show here in town. And then by sheer luck, I got the job, and ironically my very first day was the day the strike began. I can’t stop thanking my lucky stars that I got a job in the business just as the strike commenced that’s almost entirely unaffected by it.

So by my luck, I have some advice to anyone out here looking for an entry-level job with fear that the strike may prevent them from finding anything: look for something in entertainment news. With what’s happening right now, the news is surging, and there are plenty of entertainment news sources to look at, like E! for example. It doesn’t necessarily have to be entertainment news, but just something that’s in the business that wouldn’t be affected by the strike, like companies that produce commercials (I don’t think these are affected, are they?). My friend, for example, just got a good job as a receptionist at a production company, so jobs like that are ones to really consider if you come across them. There are many excellent alternative jobs still open out here you might not have considered before. Take advantage of them before they become impossible to get, because they will be if this strike lasts awhile.

Anyways, on Thursday my boss told me they needed B-Roll of the strike. So I told her Paramount was a good place to go (even though it’s one of the farthest studios from our office) for the sole reason of wanting to get out to the picket lines to meet you, since I’m an avid reader of your site and a very big fan. Sadly, though, I couldn’t find you. But I got some great footage of the strike!

Hopefully they’ll send me out again to get some footage, and this time maybe I’ll be lucky enough to run into you.

My support is with all of you 100% You guys are paving the way for me and every other young person with aspirations in Hollywood. I am beginning to look at all you writers as father figures, much like how one’s parents work their entire life so that one will have a better and more fruitful life than they had.

P.S. I have a hypothetical that’s been bothering me: let’s say a writer/director that’s part of the WGA is currently in production on a film. Let’s say that the director is shooting a scene, and as written, a scene that he’s shooting is not working. The only choice for the director is to re-write the scene to make it work. Would the director just have to cut his losses and shoot the scene as written, or would there be ramifications from the WGA if he did rewrite the scene and they found out?

P. S. David Goldschmid, General Hospital’s breakdown writer, said on We Love Soaps that scabs are already writing for GH.

As far as I know, there are no pickets planned for the weekend. I don’t even know what’s happening Monday — our strike captains will be sending out email updates.

Marco (#25):

I love my soap opera writers, but I have nothing special for you at the moment.

Will the writers be picketing over the weekend? I ask because it’s hard to get from Boston to L.A. during the week due to my job getting in the way. I would not only like to be able to network with writers, but I’d like to show my support as a future WGA member.

Thanks for your updates and good luck!

Brian

“…how’s [the strike] affecting the smaller guys?”

I’m a smaller guy and I’ll tell you.

I’m not hurting yet.

But once I start yelling, “Four shot venti half sweet Valencia soy no foam ez H20 w/ three ice cubes American misto.” And some guy walks up to the bar, picks up his drink, sticks his eyes balls to my face like I’m Sean Penn with hair missing behind my ears, and says, “I asked for two ice cubes, retard….” You’ll know I’m hurting.

That’s 6 weeks from now.

In my heart of hearts, even though they were slow out the gates, I believe the WGA is working a winning program, with a planned conclusion of sooner than later, and I support them %104 (just saw JUNO… so good).

In the meantime, treat your Starbucks baristas with some love people! Especially 6 weeks from now. Because if you’re mean to me I will punch you in the face like you were Nick Counter. And it will hurt. And you will bleed. And my hand will ache.

I’d love to get up there and support, but I don’t have a ride (yes, I’m that broke). Anyone down for picking me up and walking the line a little with me on Monday?

crazy how porn is always the technological vanguard for hollywood…

I’m just wondering what effect this strike is having on those lower profile writers. You know the guys that don’t have money saved up…. Don’t misunderstand me, I support the strike whole-heartedly (I’ve had to explain this way too many times. You don’t know how many people in Ohio don’t keep up with screenwriting news.) But I was just wondering how that’s affecting the smaller guys.

My group from the Van Ness gate got moved down to the Raleigh gate (Van Ness south of Melrose) to help out with the Ugly Betty cast members. Sorry to have missed you.