I Would Like to Note...

[jetpack_monkey]

That if I lived in LA, I'd totally be picketing with the Writers Guild of America (anyone can!), in support of the true stars of my favorite movies and television programs. I also might have a chance to meet some cool people, but that's secondary.

Ah, to be in Los Angeles...

Comments

[rhi-silverflame.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess I know what I'm doing with at least part of my weekend.

(Best tags ever.)

[fannishnonsense]

You don't have to be in LA. Or at least, I'm pretty sure they're picketing in New York too.

[jetpack-monkey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I'm in Phoenix, AZ. Home of the lack of writers' strike action.

[fannishnonsense]

Heh, yeah I guess that would be a problem. I might head over to NY if the strike lasts as long as they're saying it will. It's only a 3 or 4 hour bus trip from Wilkes-Barre. Actually, I keep meaning to find out what the fans of the Office are doing; it is set in Scranton (our sister city, YAY!), so I might actually be able to get local folks interested. Hm.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jealousy_/]

I'll be picketing with the set designers, and the lighting techs, and the camera operators, and the make-up artists, and all those other people who actually work five days a week on every single episode all season long.

Oh, wait a minute, they're not claiming to be entitled to a share of the profits from the sale of the product they helped create. They're just doing the job they were hired to do at the wage they were hired to do it. Hmm.

[jetpack-monkey.livejournal.com]

And as unionized craftspeople, they can also exercise their right to strike. That they choose not to doesn't lessen the importance of the fact that the writers have chosen to exercise theirs.

The writers' demands are not unreasonable and they've even pulled one of their cornerstone demands (regarding DVD residuals) from the table. In 1985, the writers caved and the producers were able to roll back previous deals. In 1988, the writers didn't cave. They went on strike and were able to negotiate an increase in pay and residuals. It's as simple as that. It's not just about getting a better deal. It's also about making sure they don't get a worse one.

[airawyn.livejournal.com]

Five days a week? Lazy bastards.

[airawyn.livejournal.com]

Writers do, by the way, work on every single episode. They generally work 16-hour days 5-7 days a week during the season. Plus, if one union establishes a precedent with regards to new media, it helps all the unions.

[airawyn.livejournal.com]

I will probably not actually walk a picket line, but I may show up to support the pickets; maybe bring donuts or something.