Seeing other people
As I write this on Sunday afternoon, I have no confirmation whether a deal has been reached to end the strike. Rumor and reality have been scrambled and beaten throughout this ordeal, so now seems a particularly bad time to be counting unhatched chickens. (To strain an egg metaphor.)
For any writer — WGA or otherwise — tomorrow would seem an especially important day to be on the picket lines. If the strike is ending, it’s your last chance to be part of the picket line. If it’s not ending, then a big showing on Monday will be important for the media who show up to cover the presumed resolution.
My heart will be with my usual crew at Paramount. My body and brain cells will be in Eagle Rock, where I’ll be shooting a short-film-slash-web-pilot that’s been in the works for weeks.1
The decision to do the project — I’ll tell you more when it’s done — really crystallized after Indie Day at Paramount. It was there I felt a change of memes. The message from writers to the studios had been, “Come back, baby. We can work this out.” But after the second time negotiations fell apart, the message became, “Maybe we should see other people.”
I decided to start seeing other people.
The project is financed outside the studio system, with some of that much-fabled internet money. It has actors you recognize, and it probably could be a TV show — but it won’t. There’s near-consensus that in the next year or two, one of the web shows will really take off and change the game. I can almost guarantee you it won’t be ours. We may never see the light of day. But it’s the right time to be experimenting: with tone, with format, with economic model.2
I hope to be changing lighting setups when the call comes in that the strike is over. The cast and crew will cheer. The irony that we’re filming something for the internet — the primary focus of these negotiations — will be noted. Then we’ll keep shooting, because in production, you’re always just about to lose light.
If the news comes back negative, that the negotiations have proved fruitless, and there’s no end in sight, at least we’ll be working. That’s been the interesting thing about putting together this project during the strike. Yes, people are nervous about money and mortgages, but mostly they’re just restless to work. To create. To perform. We had 2,000 submissions for three roles. We have talented tradespeople working for the joy of working.
I don’t know if the strike is over. I don’t know if this pilot will amount to anything. But after 92 days, it feels good to stop hoping and start doing. Call time is 7 a.m.
- Thus explaining my “I’ll be loading more vans” comments a while back. ↩
- To answer the obvious question: Yes, it’s okay to be shooting during the strike. The WGA has been actively encouraging members to shoot work for the web as an alternative to the AMPTP-controlled networks. ↩
Articles
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
You don’t need any volunteers to do grunt work, do you? I need a diversion from the line and it would be fun to finally be back on a location that isn’t designated a strike zone.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
You Go!
Break a bunch-a legs man.
-Synthian
February 4th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Strain an egg metaphor? That’s all yolks.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I’ll have doughnuts at the Mouse Tuesday morning. Get ready to get faded!!
Seriously, I’d bring you all doughnuts if I was unemployed. I’d buy boxes and boxes and run around town delivering them, with my name and info of course as to prevent suspicions of poisoning. But I need to pay the bills so for the time being I am chained to the Mouse. Mouse Picketeers will get yummies tomorrow.
Cheers,
Sean
February 4th, 2008 at 8:32 am
It’s clear and sunny out today, so I guess the writers will be out in full force today… in 3 hour shifts of course. You know, when this all started, I felt bad for the writers. I agree with what they’re fighting for, but their fight has been pathetic. Where’s the heart? It’s laughable. 3 hour shifts? Bankers hours when most of the studio is already at work? If it’s drizzling, there not there. If it’s the slightest bit chilly out, the numbers are very limited. And when they’re out there, it’s like one big party… everybody laughing, having a good ol’time. Ya, that tells everybody that they’re truly serious about what they’re fighting for. The personalized signs with “the bird,” putting studio executives on a wanted poster, they’ve gotten a bit childish. I applaud the writers on finally making something truly laughable.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Actually… I brought doughnuts out today. I guess I could be sued for false advertising. I suddenly had time, jumped in the car and snapped up three boxes, one for each gate. It feels good to hear my victims say, “Bless your heart!” It makes my day!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:25 am
John,
I’ve sent you an e-mail called “Tangled Web” that might be of interest to you. As it says, if you prefer I go through rep channels or whatnot, I’m happy to do that. Cheers.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Hey John,
Just so you know. The Nines is quite popular in DC! I spent a good part of Sunday driving from store to store looking for a copy. Finally on Monday, I scored one at Best Buys (they only had two left)!
Can’t wait to see your handy work!
Michelle
February 4th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I’m so very excited for you John! I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how writers/actors and other creative types need to be doing less fighting with the money people and more doing their own thing. I know it’s hard and it’s scary, but the Net is where the future lies and I totally agree that at some point one of these web shows is going to take off and put the current business model into its final tailspin.
I’m avidly waiting to see what happens!
February 4th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Are they trying to ram through a deal?
Call off the strike as soon as a proposed conrtact is announced– stopping strike momentum in its tracks and creating an overall impression the strike is actually over when it isn’t. Break solidarity by splitting up writers plus create workplace pressures to accept the deal.
Try to get a vote as quickly as possible so there is no discussion?
WTF?
(PS- I took forever to write my response to the variety story last night, but I guess it didn’t make the cut. Gotta get my own blog I suppose)