Strike, days 30 and 31
Tuesday at Paramount was notable primarily for the presence of Angry Guy, a picketer who is always looking for a fight. The Van Ness gate is pretty busy,1 and lacking any traffic signals. So it’s not hard to make life difficult for motorists pulling onto the lot, and Angry Guy did his best to make it uncomfortable for everyone.
It’s a big Guild, full of adults, so it’s not my place to tell anyone how they should picket. But after he left, we found ourselves apologizing to one of the Paramount guys he nearly came to blows with. It was exactly the scene that happens outside a college bar on a Friday night, when the sober people try to talk down the drunk-and-surly. Only it was 6:32 in the morning. And no one was drinking.
On the plus side, I got to talk with Jennifer Jason Leigh. 2
I had lunch with the Disney Feature Writing Fellows. I blogged about their situation after the Fox rally, then got involved in some of the behind-the-scenes discussions with Disney and the WGA about how to keep the fellows from getting crushed under the wheels of strike. Most of them are not WGA, but they of course hope to be, so they won’t cross a picket line to continue their fellowships. Jane Espenson, Howard Rodman and I have been working behind the scenes with WGA and Disney folks to find a solution. While that’s still forthcoming, I’m happy to say that despite all the bluster and rhetoric you see in the press, there’s a lot of level-headedness on both sides. Until the situation (or the strike) is resolved, Jane will be working the TV fellows, while I’ll handle the feature side.
Today was the gathering of screenbloggers at Warner Bros. That makes it sound like some sort of well-planned happening, when it was really just a few emails between Craig, Josh, Jane and I about which studio we should visit. Still, we had a good group of people turning out, some from as far as Texas.
I shot this picture of the LA river while walking from my car. That’s Warner Bros. on the left.
Warners Gate 2/3 is a pretty nice place to picket. There’s shade, a restroom, and a choice of two crosswalks for when you want a change of scenery.
Tomorrow, I’ll be back at my usual stomping ground: Paramount’s Van Ness gate, from 5:30 until 7:30 a.m. On Friday, I’ll be loading trucks at the mothership, WGA Headquarters.
- Though noticeably less busy in the last weeks, likely because of the drop in production as TV shows shut down. ↩
- On Barbara Turner’s cellphone. And it’s about a Christmas present, so shhh. ↩
Articles
December 5th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Okay, I gotta ask. Is “Angry Picketer” actually a SAG member? Likes to mention that we can stand in front of a car for two minutes?
December 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Quick question for you, John. Is there picketing on the weekends? I’m coming to town and would like to show my support.
Thanks.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
There is generally not picketing on weekends, alas. Well, sort of alas. It is important to have days off.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Well, gee, John thanks for the reply. I only asked because I’m curious if it’s the same picketer at the Van Ness gate as it was at Colfax this morning. Sounds like the same guy, or maybe it’s just coincidence. And I like to know stupid stuff like that.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Thanks, John. Hmm. Now whatever will I do this weekend.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:37 am
heard/read about the Carson Daly B.S. almost running down a couple nice WGA guys. John- how far will you go to let those who cross feel the heat? Would hate to see someone really under the wheels… please be safe & avoid angry guy.
Cheers & support
nice pic of LA btw.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:20 am
Jake,
Angry Picketer is apparently a strike captain, so that means he’s WGA. But I think I know who you mean. There was a SAG guy I met Day One who was very hard-core.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:16 am
John, I love your site, and I am by no means perfect, but I have to scold you for perpetuating what I believe is an epidemic grammatical gaffe. Above, you wrote: “That makes it sound like some sort of well-planned happening, when it was really just a few emails between Craig, Josh, Jane and I about which studio we should visit.” The correct grammar should read “between Craig, Josh, Jane and me.” I keep reading and hearing this mistake from smart people who should know better!
December 6th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Thanks, John. My SAG guy is a de facto strike captain (he’s married to one of the union strike organizers). Different person than your guy apparently, but the same bad and recklessly combative attitude (guess they both went to the same school of picketing)…Y’know, I understand the frustration and wanting to make something happen, but I just don’t see the point in being stupid about it. I’m sure it’s the same at Van Ness, but at Colfax the entry point is sort of sudden, so making a car come to a sudden stop and backing up traffic could cause an accident and I sure wouldn’t want that on my conscience. This isn’t a dock workers strike, there’s no need to be dangerously radical, right?
December 6th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Hi John,
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question — but I keep reading about the possible disruption of pilot season in the papers etc., due to the strike. Is this likely to push it all back several months? I am an aspiring TV writer trying to figure out how things are done.
Thanks. Beatrice
December 6th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Hey John, love the blog. Long time reader, first-time commenter.
I agree with what you said about “the right way to picket”. I think by and large the WGA may be a bit oblivious to how they are perceived not only by the average person in America, but also by a lot of average people working in the business.
I’m a Hollywood assistant and most of my friends are Hollywood assistants. It’s great to read about Leno and Conan, but the reality is, most of the non-creative workers who are getting let go are at best going to be safe through Christmas. I’m fortunate and probably won’t lose my job. One of my best friends loses his job next week. He’s been at the same show for three years, climbed the ladder considerably, and its going to be gone.
All of us are people who moved out here to “chase the dream”. And as people who will one day be in the WGA, we appreciate that you are now striking for what will become our contracts one day. But on the other hand, there’s a certain smarmyness to the whole strike that at worst is annoying and at best is angering.
Every day I drive to work, I drive past Sony and I see what looks like a big party out-front. Writers whose bare minimum for a feature script is twice what I make in a year are laughing, cheering, and reveling in their strike while I watch my friends lose their jobs.
Even if the WGA is righteous in its cause (and it is), they are still privileged. They get to make a living off of being a writer, something that tens of thousands (if not a million or so) people wish they could do, and something that nobody is entitled to. And they’re out there, laughing it up, while thousands of others can’t even get someone to take a look at their script, let alone see it come to fruition. They’re getting to make funny video sketches with A-list talent while others can’t even get a permit to shoot.
I know writers are creative, vibrant people, but I have to ask… why won’t the WGA picket lines take a more solemn tone? The impish playfulness of the picket lines really rubs salt in the wounds of those who haven’t gotten their break yet as well as those who are losing their jobs. And to the average American, I think it smacks of “spoiled Hollywood brats!” (their viewpoint, not mine!) I think the longer the strike goes on, the more harmful that playful image is going to be to the WGA in terms of public sympathy.
Is this something that picketing writers consider?
December 6th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
“between Craig, Josh, Jane and meâ€? isn’t grammatical either. “Between” implies two things. It should be “among Craig, Josh, Jane and me.” I’m not in the WGA, but I don’t think members need to be somber. Let’s have fun in this little revolution. Whenever anyone strikes, there are always people who wish they could have that job, and there are always people who suffer.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I would just like to say that you have my support, now that I know what it is all about.
I heard nothing about it in the UK, until the long break from Prison Break, and it took a while to get a decent answer online.
Good luck
Joe
December 6th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
ProdAsst (#8) and Suzie (#12):
I usually get the me, myself and I correct. I didn’t this time. I’m not losing sleep over it.
I think the battle of “between” and “among” was lost a century ago. And strictly speaking, it was a series of emails between two parties which organized the event.
Mouse (#11):
How to keep anyone from showing up to the picket lines: ban happiness.
Believe me, there were clear instructions from the start about making sure the picket lines weren’t a party. No music, no drinking, no idiotic street theatre. But when you’re spending three hours doing nothing but holding a sign, and you’re not getting paid, and you’re worried about your house, and your friends, and your kid’s tuition, and when the fuck this is all going to be over, you welcome any levity you can find. Drive-by schadenfreude is understandable, but it’s not a reason for writers to shelve their laughter.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
I want to start this post by saying I fully support this strike. That said I am now an unemployed person who works below the line, who was told there is no guarantee I’ll get my job back when this is resolved. Is there anything out there that can help me? Who is backing me? I also have a condo and a car to pay for and I am feeling alone.
Sincere regards! Don
December 7th, 2007 at 1:59 am
Hey Mouse–
You gotta understand– we are out in the heat every week day, literally walking back and forth on a graded asphalt incline, for hours on end. Don’t walk. Walk. Don’t walk. Walk. Stupid light. Carrying a sign. Your legs hurt, you get all kinds of crazy chafing in places I don’t want to go into, sunburn, etc. You wonder if there’s any point to all the walking which feels non-constructive and uncreative and a total waste of time. And you’re there with a bunch of other creative people you’ve never met before (if you’re a feature writer) who know exactly the insanity of your life because they’ve been there too. We’re talking smart, funny people walking next to you every day. So look, we’re out there anyway- we’re just trying to make the most of it. Like, I heard today that the letterman guys in NY are yelling “What do we want? THE GIRLS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL TO LIKE US! When do we want it! BACK THEN!” We’re just trying to break up the three-hours shifts. So that we can come back the next day.
We are all fully aware that this is so NOT a party– because of this strike we’re fucked, other people are fucked… It’s a shitty situation. But I head out almost every day alone to the line, and I almost always end up talking to someone amazing about writing, Hollywood history, philosophy, and miscellaneous bullshit. And yeah, I admit it- sometimes it’s kinda nice- even enjoyable. But cut us a little slack- I can promise you that except for this being so serious, we’d rather not be having this much fun.
A Writer
PS– one last thought. I sincerely invite you to join the party. We would love to have you picketing with us, so don’t look at it as the playful writers going it alone- an IATSE friend of mine met me at CBS and picketed for an hour or so with me the other day, and today I was getting a lot of thumbs up and words of support from IATSE members leaving the studio yesterday. Let your friends know you’re always welcome to walk up to one of us and introduce yourself!
December 7th, 2007 at 5:10 am
John,
From France, I have the impress that there is a gap between the claims of the WGA members, WGA non-members, SAG members and so on. Furthermore, it appears that there is a range of disagreement surrounding the way of being on strike.
In concrete terms, is it a restraint to conduct the negociations?
December 7th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I had been really hoping to make it out to join the Screenblogger walk on Wednesday, but it is hard for me to get to WB. Should you guys decide to visit another studio together, may I suggest Fox? If so, would be great to see y’all!
December 7th, 2007 at 8:40 am
And why the fuck does everybody feel the need to correct John and his grammar all the time? Give it up people. This is a free service. If the guy misspells something or uses improper grammar, tough shit. He’s the big writer, you’re not, so get over it.
As a director / producer, I am totally against the WGA thing. Even so, I’ve been reading John’s blog for years. He’s our host here, and he pays for this site. Step off, grammar police….step off.
December 7th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
WORD!
I agree 100% re: the correction b.s.
It’s the story, not the grammar that makes a great film.
& YEAH… Stop steppin’ on John’s dick.