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The WGA’s PR campaign released video of actors Ben Stiller, Lily Tomlin, Sarah Silverman, Marge Hildebrand, and Zach Braff speaking at Tuesday’s Bring-A Star-To-Picket-With-You event in ”support for the men and women who write the words that make them famous.” Lily Tomlin: “The actors are nothing without good words! We’re nothing.” And actor/writer/director Ben Stiller: “I hope this strike is over soon, but it shouldn’t be over until we get what we need.” Sarah Silverman: “It’s so crazy ridiculous…all the writers want is a small percentage of the money that the producers are making on the things that they’re writing. “They’re getting zero.” Photos by Jonathan Alcorn.
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The Horror Writers Association, on behalf of its writer members, stands in support of the Writers Guild of America strike in seeking appropriate compensation for writers when their work is distributed digitally, either via DVD or Internet downloads. Although HWA is not a union, it is an organization of writers that advocates for authors’ rights. Writers Guild of America and its demands fall solidly into this category. All writers will be affected by the outcome of this strike, and we stand in solidarity, resisting those who seek to distribute our work on the Internet, DVD, or any format without fair compensation.
Deborah LeBlanc, HWA President
Scott Nicholson, HWA VP
I was hoping to find something on here about the strike winding down, or some big event on Wednesday that all of the writers went to leaving the picket lines thin. Hopefully there is some such explanation, because the picket lines outside of Disney Wednesday afternoon were pathetic.
Around 2:30pm there was one, yes ONE, lone picketer at the Buena Vista gate (plus a stack of signs waiting for somebody to join him). And it wasn’t because they had all gone over to the Alameda gate to try to make a statement there, less than ten picketers were at that gate.
Please bring information that the writers were concentrating their efforts elsewhere, or some other explanation, because the impression was that they’ve lost momentum – and not even two weeks in. There are a lot of people siding with the writers, but that will start to die off if it starts to look like they’re using the time to go to the beach (or stay home and work on that passion project spec script they never had time for). I especially think the people driving onto the lot who know they’ll soon be out of jobs if the strike doesn’t settle would like to know that the writers are willing to at least take the time to walk the lines for their cause.
Curious indeed is one to the question of whether or not the A-listers would be willing to give a segment of their residuals to the writers. It is somewhat easy to tell the networks and studios what they should do with their money, but would the support of the A-listers remain if it was their pocket from which money was being taken?
I can’t help but notice the total lack of diversity in all photos of picketing writers. I’ve heard for years that minorities are virtually shut out of series writing jobs, but it’s never been more apparent to me than it is now.
After talking with a friend who’s never been able to get a series writing gig, I have to say that she pointed out some disturbing similarities between what established writers tell minority writers (“Just give us time. We need to study the situation, but we’re committed to making things fair for everyone.” ” Trust us. This is important to us. Don’t be so impatient.” “You have to understand, there just aren’t that many writing jobs available.”) and what studio heads are telling striking writers.
I’m one of those viewers who initially sided with the writers, but after speaking with my friend, my opinion is starting to change. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not jumping on the studios’ ship. Instead, I’m opting for that old fashioned form of entertainment. I’m going to read a book!
At the end of the day, the writers who were making big bucks will mostly return to their production deals and make more big bucks. Any new deal on streaming (and DVD if it goes back on the table) will help them tremendously. Mid-level (upper five figures, six figures) may also do alright. The vast majority, however, the ones on the lines every day, getting those free pizzas and doughnuts and lip service (oh, boy) will never recoup what they will lose during the strikes; the lucky ones will only plow through their savings, others will lose their homes and maybe their jobs. Many, many more who aren’t part of the studio system or part of a union will lose jobs, homes, savings, businesses. There is wrong on both sides, there is greed on both sides, there is certainly arrogance, self-righteous pretension and stupidity on both sides; hey, there is even a little right on both sides – but it should never have come to this.
Um, look in the background of the pictures above, I see minorities.
How did this turn into an argument about minorities?
Not to sound like a jackass, but the term “minority” has a definition that makes it the opposite of “majority”. So I think there are some percentages you need to take into account. Also, what are you basing this off of? I know plenty of “minorities” who work in entertainment, and as writers. I’ve driven by the strikes and seen “minorities” picketing, and, like Jerad mentioned, there are “minorities” in the photo with Ben Stiller above. I just don’t see how your argument has any merit, or why it’s posted here?
So, this strike is boiling down to a photo opt with a celebrity. Classy move…
To Jan T’s point, I am a black wga member with fifteen years in the guild. After walking the picket line for the past week or so, it’s clear that a great many of the tv shows have VERY few minorities working on them. The CW might still have a few shows that hire black writers but the sheer number of writers walking with me day in and day out are not black, Hispanic, Native American or Asian. The Writer’s Guild has been trying to address these issues in an official way for years but its clear as bell to me-people get jobs on television shows because their friends hire them. Period. And that says a whole lot about our wonderfully diverse city we call home.
People are just discovering now that Hollywood is white “male” dominated? Come on now. You’re late.
Three quick points:
1) Jerad, you are absolutely right. There are people of color in the background of the Ben Stiller photo. I stand corrected. Rather than saying strike photos indicate a TOTAL lack of diversity, I should have said, of the 30 or so photos of picketers that I’VE seen, people of color were present in two. This led me to conclude that there is very little diversity in the Writers Guild.
2) A more important issue is this: I’m a viewer, not a studio head and not a scriptwriter. Once I turn off the TV and get reacquainted with other diversions like reading and, oh, talking with people again, I’m gone. I’m certainly not asking you to change WGA demographics just because my sensitivities were raised. My earlier post was just to make the point that I don’t feel either party is on the side of the angels in this dispute.
3) I’ve talked with several of my non-screenwriter/non-studio head friends, and guess what? They’re kind of excited by the thought of not having a reason to turn on the TV. Most are hoping the strike lasts long enough for them to forget the plotlines on Grey’s Anatomy and Ugly Betty. If so, who cares when those and other shows come back? I’m curious. Is anyone worried about that?
For what it’s worth – I am certain I have been passed up on by agents, writing staffs, writing fellowships, associates programs, etc… because I am not black, Hispanic, Native American or Asian.
Didn’t a recent study suggest it was expensive actors like Ben Stiller earning more than the studios which led to this predicament. Let’s see if he would put his money where his mouth/sign is.
Ditto on that “Almost There.” Every show has a diversity hire. With shows hiring Co-EPs as Consultants and paying them Story Editor money, there are no low level positions anymore… except for Staff Writer which is reserved for minority hires. So I think there could not be a better time to be a minority in this business.