Strike, Day Two
Better than the first. Easier, certainly, since there wasn’t the panic of the unknown. I stayed at Paramount, half the time at the main gate, half the time at the smaller Gower gate. It was a very chanty day, but I was in the mood. One of the more popular ones from Gower gate:
I don’t know but I been told,
Sumner Redstone’s made of gold.
Makes his money off our sweat,
Won’t pay us for internet.
I don’t know but some folk say,
Paramount is late to pay.
Why we marching at this gate?
We got screwed in ‘88.
Writers seen: Aline Brosh McKenna, who brought Astroburger for the crew; John Gatins of The Nines, hitting two studios in a day; We Are Marshall’s Jamie Linden, with whom I swapped McG stories; fellow Heroes: Origin refugee Michael Dougherty; and a drum-toting Angela Robinson. There was also the writing team, the kids’ book writer who was also on Alias (”season three, the bad one”), and a half-dozen other folks I only met by first name.
Other famous faces: Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight, Mark Steines of the same, Dr. Phil, and Blair Underwood, who Aline got to pose for a picture. It was a very iPhone-heavy picket line. I taught several people the iPhone camera trick. (The camera takes the picture when you release the button, so hold it down while you’re framing, then let up to “snap.” Greatly increases the odds of actually getting what you want.)
On that topic, there are a lot of great photos from the strike up on Flickr.
I’ll be back at Paramount tomorrow, if any readers care to join.
Articles
November 6th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Just wanted to say that there are people out here in the non-Hollywood, non-LA world who support you.
Strike on.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
yeah i got to meet Aline Mckenna at the austin film festival, she did a panel there and was easily the coolest, most helpfull, person i got to meet that weekend.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
I’m in Orlando and I haven’t seen any of the local news outlets covering anything about strikers at Universal or Disney. I realize most of the shooting doesn’t happen here (if at all), but I was wondering if you knew any writers in this area that were going to be out and about. I’d love to stop by and show some support.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
i DEFINITELY encourage any aspiring screenwriters to come out and join us. for all of you working hard on that killer spec script that you hope will open doors and start your career in Hollywood, this strike is for YOU. get your writing buddies, your scene partners, your filmmaking friends and come on down. grab a sign, get a cup of coffee and join us. just like Dan who joined us at Warner Bros. Gate 4A today. he just moved down from Seattle YESTERDAY and thought it was the right thing to do to come out and get on the picket line. good on ‘ya, Dan!
November 7th, 2007 at 1:04 am
Thank you so much for taking a stand for the future of this business. I understand what you and others are doing is breaking the way for writers to able to make a decent living in the future as well as right now. It’s unique in our day and age to have people who stand not just for themselves but also for others. I just got back from directing a documentary in Malawi about the unique, peaceful transition from 30 years of dictatorship to a home-grown democracy. The men and women who risked their lives in 1992-1994 where doing it for the next generation! It warmed my heart to see that you are involved with the orphans there!
If one were to bring a snacks to the picket lines, what would you suggest: cookies, snickers or something else?
November 7th, 2007 at 3:12 am
After looking at those photos, I feel like a loser for not being out there with you guys. I suppose it’s not too late.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Love these updates – us UK writers support you too, from afar. Is there anything we can do to help out, from way over here in Olde EnglandLand?
November 7th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Though I wish it was in LA (it’s getting cold), I’m going to join the WGAE as much as I can. Solidarity will win the day.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:08 am
John– God Bless you for fighting the good fight out there. Wish I could say the same for fellow blogger Joe Carnahan– check out this post on his blog yesterday. The address is
http://www.smokinjoecarnahan.com
PICKETS FENCE 11/06/2007 at 05:18 PM
Kids:
Only in L.A. would people use a strike as an opportunity to put themselves in front of cameras for the pure PR of it all. There’s not a greater whorehouse on the planet than Hollywood. I love watching these various stars of varying stripes traipse out and ’show their support’ by delivering baked goods and urging their creative brethren to ‘fight the good fight’ and ’soldier on.’ We need some good old fashioned chain and bat wielding strike breakers. Not because I’m anti-union in any way, I just want to see a little melee on the picket lines to keep it interesting. Sh*t, if we’re gonna fight this hard and shut the town down, we should all be tasting a little blood at some point.
Thoughts?
JC
November 7th, 2007 at 9:40 am
The truth about the strike: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20158656,00.html?iid=top25-20071107-Diary+of+a+TV+writer+on+strike
November 7th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Would love to join but am stuck in the pacific northwest, where the strike is not even a blip on people’s radar…what can us non-WGAers outside LA-LA land do in support?
I did some chanting here at work, but my co-workers looked at me funny…
November 7th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Anyone who wants to help: email and write the studios and production companies. Tell them to give the writers a fair shake and stop being so greedy. Blog the truth on your favorite shows’ websites (and others). The media conglomorates own TV and print, so not everybody knows what’s going on.
Fight the corporate spin…and thanks for your support!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I’m up in Seattle but would bring some hot chocolate (wait, cold lemonade? It’s always sunny…) and walk with everyone if I was there. You have lots of support from the NW corner, certainly not just me.
Fun Fact PS – The Slamdance Film Festival office is right across from Astroburger at Sunset and Gower.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Will you be out there on Monday? Since it’s Veteran’s Day I don’t have to work and I can walk to Paramount so I was thinking of joining the picket line for a while, maybe bring out some brownies.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:48 am
John,
I VERY briefly met you in Austin after you did the pitch panel with Jessica Bendinger. I just want to send my support for the strike. I’m stuck in film school in Athens, Ohio, but if I was there I’d be out there pounding the pavement and chanting right along with you.
Keep up the fight! We’re with you (if only in spirit)
MF