This Writer Wrote

If you have been following what’s been happening in the entertainment business, you know that the Writers Guild of America’s contract with the studio and network producers ended on  October 31st and when talks broke down, the writers took to the street on Monday in NY and LA on strike.

Since then, SAG, the actors’ union, and the Teamsters have come out in support of the writers, but since they are bound by their own contracts with ‘no strike’ clauses, they can not join on a sympathy strike, they can only add their voices on their own free time, and must cross picket lines to fulfil their work contracts.  Writers unions in Canada and UK have also said they will honor their sister union’s strike, which is important because otherwise the studios would just hire Canadians and Brits and severely diminish the strike’s clout.

 Every day this week, at every studio and network gate, on every studio and network lot there have been writers with their red strike T-shirts and their strike signs.  But the WGA decided to drive home the point of how serious and united the Hollywood writers are this time, by staging one big rally at one studio.

 So today there was no picketing at Disney, WB, Universal, Paramount, Sony, and others.  Everyone gathered out front of FOX studios.  According to Variety.com, there were over 4000 supporters there.  Rev. Jesse Jackson and veteran writer/producer Norman Lear talked to the crowd and Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine performed two songs at the start of the rally.

At first only Avenue of the Stars was closed down in front of Fox Plaza, headquarters, where the podium was set up on the stairs and strikers and their supporters (from actor ranks, writing assistant ranks, script coordinator ranks) listened to words of encouragement and courage.  Then the march began down the sidewalk around the studio to the front gates of FOX studios on Pico Blvd and Motor, where the main drive-in entrance is.

It was exhiliarating to see that the whole sidewalk was covered with supporters and signs for the whole length of the block and then some.  Once everybody got to the front of the studio, they crossed Pico and walked down the other side of the street until both sides were wall-to-wall strike supporters. 

Perhaps because it was all very orderly and required very little police presence, the police announced that they were going to stop traffic on Pico Blvd so we could have the street to ourselves.  This would allow everyone to gather together in front of studio main gates and show our strength rather than have it spread out for over a mile.  We waited patiently for the word, and when they gave it, we gathered together in a proper rally.

To learn more about what the writers are fighting for and why they feel that have to disrupt your viewing pleasure at this point, visit this simple video on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk

One of the more interesting wrinkles in these negotiations is that many US productions are filmed in Canada and are written, directed, and acted by Canadians.  Writers down in LA waited to hear how that would affect them.  If you were WGA, it was simple, you had to abide by the strike, and if you were WGC working in Canada, it was simple… you had to work.  But what to do with the WGC working down in LA and those holding dual union cards.  Apparently, Canadians working down here have to abide by the WGA strike, and so do dual card carriers who reside here in the US, or at least resided here at the time of contract signing.  Those who hold dual cards and work and reside in Canada can keep working. 

So some of the writers have been heading home to LA to man the picket lines and some (Canadian) are carrying on with the series up there.

In any case, it was an impressive turnout — one which we all hope brings about a speedy return to the negotiation table, for already the studios are laying off people and the little folks can’t weather the hardships of unemployment that easily.