A Post-Strike Strategy: La Bruschetta Celebrates the End of the WGA Strike

On Sunday, from Noon-4:00pm, Angelo Peloni, the owner of La Bruschetta Ristorante, in West LA, celebrated the end of the strike by hosting a buffet lunch for any writer who wanted to stop by. A tradition he started back in 1988 when his friend George Kirgo was the President of the WGA, Angelo and his wife, Susana, generously opened their kitchen and sent out platter after platter of antipasti, pasta and meat dishes, and dessert.

Throughout the strike, restaurants around town supported writers by offering discounted meals. On Wednesdays, Campanile had a Writers' 3-course prix fix dinner. The Backstage Bar gave writers 15% off all food and spirts. A handful of restaurants went even farther and proved there can be such a thing as a "free lunch." The Utopia Cafe in Santa Monica, like Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, gave a free meal to strikers. Barney's Beanery had a beer and bowl of chili for tired writers who stopped by after picketing.

At United Hollywood we're pleased to acknowledge all those restaurants that supported writers during the strike. We honor them and thank them from the bottom of our hearts (ok, stomachs).

We're Almost Finished....Just One More Step

I hope everyone has started back on the path to "normalcy". I, for one, was happy to see writers embraced on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. And both shows were the better for being written by their writing staffs.

When the strike started we heard a lot of talk about writers writing specs during the strike. But I actually don't know anyone who wrote a script during the past 3 months. Some writers did write. I heard about a writer who wrote a novel. Another a children's book. I started a food web site. But writing screenplays or working on pilot assignments didn't seem to happen as expected. Picketing seemed to consume the people I talked with.

Maybe that says something about the level of commitment writers felt about the strike. At any rate, thankfully, the strike is over now. As Patric Verrone said in his email, the negotiations accomplished many but not all of our goals. There is still more to be achieved in the next contract cycle, but by staying focused and committed, we prevailed against enormous odds. We should all congratulate one another. We did good.

Even though it feels as if the strike is already ancient history, there is still one more step to go: we have to vote on the contract itself. Here's Ann Farriday's instructions about the voting process.

from Ann Farriday:
Congratulations! Although the strike is now officially over, the membership still needs to vote on whether to accept the terms of the new MBA.

CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTE
Ballots and related materials should be in the mail on Friday February 15th.. Members will have the opportunity to vote by mail, vote by proxy or vote in person at the Special Membership Meeting on Monday February 25, 2008 at 6 pm at the Writers Guild Theater.

RATIFICATION PRO AND CON STATEMENTS DUE TOMORROW
WGA members in good standing have the opportunity to submit statements supporting or opposing ratification of the proposed 2008 MBA. Statements must be delivered to WGAW or WGAE headquarters by 12 noon, Thursday February 14. For submission rules click here.

MEMBER INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS ON THE PROPOSED 2008 MBA NEXT WEEK
Please encourage your team members who have questions about the new contract to attend one of these meetings. WGAW Senior Staff will go over the deal terms, and address members’ questions and concerns.

• Tuesday, February 19 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at the WGAW building, 7000 W 3rd St 90048, Multipurpose Room (2nd floor).
• Thursday, February 21 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Sportsman’s Lodge, 12825 Ventura Blvd, Studio City 91604.

Please RSVP Thomas Griffin at tgriffin@wga.org or 323-782-4868.

More Info on Voting

This email was just sent to strike captains. It contains info on the NegCom vote, the Board and Council votes, the pending vote to lift the strike, and the pending vote to ratify the contract.

DEAR STRIKE CAPTAINS,

This morning, the WGA Negotiating Committee unanimously and unconditionally recommended the terms of the proposed 2008 MBA to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council. The Board and Council then voted unanimously to recommend the contract, and to submit it to the joint membership of WGAW and WGAE for ratification. Ratification ballots will be mailed soon, and the ratification vote will be conducted over the next few weeks.More information about the ratification vote will be sent to you in a few days.

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP VOTE:

An email will be sent out to the general membership later this afternoon announcing a special vote on Tuesday February 12. A yes vote means you are voting to end the strike immediately; a no vote means you are voting to continue the strike during the ratification process.

Ballots can be cast at the Writers Guild Theater in Los Angeles from 2 PM to 6 PM. For members that aren’t able to cast a ballot in person, proxy ballots can be downloaded at wga.org and faxed in. Proxy ballots and voting instructions will be posted at wga.org later today.

The strike remains in effect until the votes are counted. Results will be announced on Tuesday night.

Please encourage your team members to participate in this important decision and cast their ballots.

NO PICKETING MONDAY AND TUESDAY -- All pickets are suspended until the WGA membership votes to either end or continue the strike.

NOTE: WGAE voting takes place Tuesday from 4-7 PM at the Crowne Plaza on 49th and Broadway. Proxy ballots are on WGAE.org and must be returned to Guild East headquarters. Full info and proxy ballot are available on WGAEast.org.

Leonard Dick: I'll Give You a Fair Deal

This is an email "House, M.D." strike captain and Canadian Leonard Dick sent to his team today.

Subject: Guild-wide picket Thursday

As the twentieth century rambled into its final decade, this freshly minted MBA landed his first job in Hollywood as a finance executive at Disney. Heeding the lessons garnered at a cost of $60,000 for two years of tuition, room, and board, I invested in myself and purchased a chunk of shares of Disney stock (I also shrewdly bought Philip Morris stock two weeks before the federal courts, for the first time in forty years of class action suits against Big Tobacco, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs to the tune of $300 million).

Though I mothballed my 40-regular suits to become a writer of medical stories of an impeccable verisimilitude, I held on to those shares. I am an owner of Disney. On Thursday, February 6, I come full circle:

I am going to picket myself.

It's kinda poetic. You want a fair deal? I'm going to get you that deal. Because I'm going to get me to give you that deal. Bob Iger works for me. Tomorrow I'm going to march into his office and order him -- that's right, order him -- to give you that deal you've sweated for these last few months

But I need you to fend off the highly trained security guards who will try to assassinate me. Your absence on the picket line tomorrow could have dire consequences. Plus my mother's in town and it would be weird for her to be visiting if I were dead.

It's a Guild-wide picket. Other entertainment unions will be joining us. Info is below.

DISNEY STUDIOS
Picketing Shifts: 8am-3pm (8-11, 10-1, 12-3)
500 S Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
Parking Option: Neighborhood streets east of Disney (Parkside Dr.)

I will be pulling the 10-1 shift.

Please come. Give my mother's visit purpose.

Skate blades up!

Leonard Dick, Shareholder of The Walt Disney Company

Mass Picket at Disney Tomorrow

Could tomorrow be the final mass picket of the strike? One way to help make that a reality is to show up at what could be the final mass picket of the strike!

Send a signal to the companies: If you want to make sure no last-minute legalistic monkey business derails the progress toward a fair and reasonable WGA deal, take a few laps around Disney tomorrow. We even made you a map.


View Larger Map

Unlike previous mass pickets, there is no official theme tomorrow. But there's an implicit one: We're Almost There.

John August: Big Monday Picket Is Important

John August maintains one of the essential blogs on screenwriting and Hollywood. In a post from a few hours ago, he frames the current situation with typical wisdom:

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.

We couldn't agree more. Let's a get out there in force all this week.

And in the same post, August reveals that, spurred on by the strike, he's making the leap to original online content.

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.

And John August is far from alone. There's a creative reinvention of the business going on that United Hollywood will cover once the WGA strike is over.

But it's not over yet. Stay tuned...

The Perspective on the Lines Back East

WGAE member David Handelman sent us an article to balance out the "west coast bias" of U.H. Although, as he writes, "It is called 'United Hollywood' not 'United Long Island City.'" The article is a Washington Post profile from 1/30 of various working writers on the WGAE's picket line.

Washington Post (reg. req'd)

Archived copy on WGAE.org

Why I Walk...

This was submitted by WGA member Mark Kunerth.

Invariably, while walking the picket line, conversations to turn to one of three things: dissecting the issues we are fighting for, speculating as to the status of the negotiations, or determining how many miles we’ve walked during a particular picketing shift. Perhaps it’s grown to urban legend proportions, but recent reports put the latter at 29 miles per shift. Oddly, in thirteen weeks, I’ve lost exactly zero pounds.

We all have our own reasons for marching in circles for hours on end. It may be the hope of achieving fair compensation for new media or the desire to revamp the dreaded DVD formula or it could simply be to show solidarity and resolve.

However, the reality that often gets lost in the mix is how the outcome of these negotiations – the fair compensation for all of our work – will affect contributions to our pensions and health fund. Any concessions or rollbacks, regardless of how the companies may try to decorate them, will directly and significantly affect the stability and viability of two funds we largely take for granted.

I know I certainly used to take them for granted. That was until six years ago when my wife was stricken with a life-threatening illness. It was a time filled with grief, confusion and uncertainty, yet the Guild was there. That is why I walk the strike line. To support a union that supported my family during a very dark time. During that time, a faceless organization became a collection of caring, compassionate friends. For that, I will always be grateful.

When my wife was just over seven months pregnant, I found her on the floor in our home office convulsing in a violent grand mal seizure. Instinct took over, paramedics were called, and an ambulance rushed my wife to the nearest hospital. There, while awaiting treatment, she suffered two more seizures, underwent a CAT scan and spent the next twenty-four hours drifting in and out of consciousness as doctors struggled to come up with a diagnosis.

Once stabilized, we were told my wife’s CAT scan was negative, and that her seizures were the result of adult-onset epilepsy; an odd diagnosis and punch to the gut, but a relief that the previous days’ drama was nothing more serious. Sent home with anti-seizure medication and an otherwise clean bill of health, my wife and I spent that day trying to wrap our heads around this diagnosis. That night, however, she had another seizure in her sleep. Again paramedics were called and back we went to the hospital.

Doctors performed another CAT scan. Afterward, they pulled me aside and said, “We found a mass. Your wife has a brain tumor.” This was impossible. The scan two days earlier showed nothing. The doctor checked my wife’s patient file. No record of a previous CAT scan. The cynic in me said, “Of course.”

Over the next thirty-six hours, my wife was held in intensive care where she suffered five more seizures, each more violent than the last. Finally stabilized with heavy doses of anti-seizure medication, she was moved to a private room in the High Risk Pregnancy ward where we would remain for the next six weeks, allowing our baby to grow as close to term as possible. The plan was to wait for our baby to be born; then schedule my wife for brain surgery. The entire time, she was exhaustively monitored by state-of-the-art equipment, impressive machines and mind-boggling technology that a writer can’t possibly begin to understand.

We spent time between blood draws and neurological tests learning all we could about brain tumors. We researched doctors, and tried, with great difficulty, to adjust to our new reality. Less than a week into our ordeal, the phone in our tiny hospital room rang. It was a representative from the Writers Guild of America. Word had gotten out about our little story, and the Guild wanted to make sure that we were receiving everything we needed, and to ask if there was anything they could do to help.
We didn’t know what we needed, just that our plate was suddenly and ridiculously full. There was even an IRS audit in the middle of this. Seriously.

We were reassured that the Guild was a phone call away, ready to provide anything: doctor referrals, recommendations, assistance with paperwork and the peace of mind that our medical insurance – still one of the best in the country – would cover everything. We were instructed to make our medical decisions based on need and what we deemed best for us, and the Guild and its insurance would do the rest.

A month and a half later, our little girl was born – three weeks early and with under-developed lungs. She spent the first several days of her life in the neonatal unit. (Because we still hadn’t had enough drama.)

With the help of referrals, we found the best brain surgeon in the country, if not the world. Dr. Keith Black, who heads up the Maxine Dunitz Neurological Clinic at Cedars Sinai Hospital, has dedicated his life to treating brain tumors and working for a cure. He agreed to perform my wife’s surgery, and a week later, she was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where she underwent four-hour brain surgery to remove a racquetball-sized tumor from her left, frontal lobe. Three days later, she was home. The WGA called again to inquire about the health of my wife and daughter. In the course of eight weeks, we had accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

All of it was covered by our insurance.

A week after brain surgery, we met with Dr. Black for her biopsy results. Our research had led us to a morbid hope. “We need the tumor to be either grade one or grade two.” Those, our research had told us, were the types of tumors that were eminently treatable or even curable.

Our doctor sat us down and said, “Surgery went incredibly well.” Hope.
He went on, “Unfortunately your tumor was a glioblastoma multiforme – grade four.” The words we didn’t understand turned out to mean, ‘Incurable.’ Complete devastation.

We were told that it would be treated aggressively. Radiation. Chemotherapy. Still, the prognosis wasn’t good. Most people diagnosed with these tumors live, on average, 18-24 months. We were told of the incredible likelihood that my wife would not see our daughter walk.
The next few months were filled with innumerable doctor visits, MRIs, radiation treatments and finally a steady diet of oral chemotherapy that my wife would continue indefinitely.

The whole time, the WGA supported us, helping us cut through healthcare red tape and managing an unending maze of hospital and insurance company beauracracies.

It’s now been nearly six years since my wife collapsed in our home office. Our little girl started kindergarten in the fall. My wife has valiantly fought her way back from the most vicious of diseases and the direst of prognoses. She discontinued her monthly chemotherapy nearly three years ago and now, aside from a really cool scar on her head, you’d never know she was sick. And despite no longer working as a sitcom writer, she still benefits from my WGA insurance coverage and marches side-by-side the rest of us, logging more hours than most, I’m sure.

For us, the strike is about much more than DVDs, streaming video, ESTs and any number of negotiating bullet points that involve math I don’t entirely understand. Like my fellow guild members, I want to be paid fairly for all of our work. On top of that, however, I hope to keep the very real and significant contributions to our pension and health care funds, which will continue to provide all of us with world class healthcare.

So while I walk for a fair deal, I also walk out of loyalty to my union. I walk because I will never forget their support in the face of adversity. I know my reasons are probably different than most, and oh, how it would be so very easy for me to hit the snooze button and forego that 6 a.m. strike walk. But it also would have been very easy for the Guild to have not gotten so personally involved in our lives.

And while this letter may be perceived as ‘heart-tugging,’ ‘manipulative,’ or some lame attempt at sympathy, it is really a long overdue thank you letter to the Writers Guild of America.

Thank you, WGA.

Mark Kunerth

Voices4Action!

As the media blackout continues, the only voices we hear are our own as we discuss the DGA deal, parsing it for nuances, looking for weaknesses and breakthroughs. On the picket line the work continues, as we keep our struggle in the public eye. Voices4Action! has been posting video interviews with our fellow members.

Steve Gaghan gives a clear-headed, no-nonsense view of the strike. Jordan Roberts talks passionately about our debt to past members. Stacy Title reminds the AMPTP that writers are determined to fight for the best deal possible.

In the coming weeks we'll post more interviews, including ones with Billy Ray, Mike White, Joss Whedon, Walter Bernstein, Doug McGrath, and Marty Scorsese.

SAG Awards Honor Achievement and Solidarity

United Hollywood extends its congratulations to all the winners of last night's SAG Awards and thanks all those who supported the WGA during their remarks.

- Read the official SAG press release about last night's ceremony.
- Coverage from the New York Times and from David Carr, aka "The Carpetbagger."
- A photo gallery from the LA Times.

And don't forget to stop by the SAG/WGA Unity rally at Fox today! Organized by the WGA Union Solidarity Committee and the Women's Committees of SAG and WGA.

Location: Fox Studios, 10201 W Pico Blvd, 90064

Shifts: 7-10 AM, 10 - 1 PM, 1 - 4 PM
Special SAG participation from 12 - 3 PM

Sign-ins: Motor Gate and Galaxy intersection (at Ave of the Stars).

Parking:
· Free four-hour parking in the parking lot at the park right off Motor (200 yards from Fox).
· Two-hour parking on Motor and side streets south and west of Fox.
· Pay parking at Century City Mall.

Bathrooms: Public bathrooms in the building halfway up the parking lot at the park.

Be Safe! Traffic on Pico and Motor is very heavy -- stay out of the street. Cross intersections only with the lights, and watch for turning cars. Step all the way up on the curb when the light has changed. Be particularly careful when passing Gate 3, where cars come in very fast.

Thanks to Fox Picket Coordinator Ashley Gable.

Benefits and Events

MONDAY JANUARY 28:
WGA/SAG UNITY DAY: Monday, January 28, 2008 - Fox Studios -10201 West Pico (& Motor). Picket shifts are 7-10 AM; 10 AM – 1 PM; 1 – 4 PM. Dual WGA/SAG members are encouraged to attend 12-3 PM shift as available. Sponsored by the WGA Union Solidarity Committee and the Women’s Committees of SAG and WGA.

iO WEST ARMANDO WITH BOB ODENKIRK: Actor, comedian, writer, and director Bob Odenkirk is set to host the Armando show Monday night, January 28 at 9:00 PM at iO WEST in Hollywood. Odenkirk, a former writer for Saturday Night Live, starred in Mr. Show With Bob and David, and recently directed The Brothers Solomon. He will appear in The Armando Show as part of iO WEST’s month-long series of WGA benefit shows, and the theater will be donating half its box office proceeds to the WGA Industry Support Fund. For tickets and info. call 323-962-7560. Check out the website at iowest.com.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30:
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS WALK THE LINE: Northwestern University Alumni (otherwise known as the "NU Mafia") are cordially invited to join their fellow writers, actors and other supporters, Wednesday, January 30, from 11:30-2:30 PM, at NBC Burbank. Scheduled to attend: Perry Rein, Maria Ferrari, John Lehr and many more to be announced.

THURSDAY JANUARY 31:
AFSCME PICKET AT UCLA: UC workers’ contract expires Jan 31 with no agreement in sight. Join hundreds of custodians, food service workers, nursing assistants, medical assistants and techs to support their effort for fairness and respect. Thursday, January 31, 12 NOON, at UCLA Medical Center (Westwood Boulevard and Jules Stein Plaza).

TMA SOLIDARITY: The Talent Managers Association will be picketing in solidarity with us at NBC Burbank from 12 pm - 3 pm.

"TV TAKES THE STAGE": A benefit weekend of original, short theatre written exclusively by striking TV writers. Participants include writers from Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Cold Case, My So-Called Life, CSI, Tell Me You Love Me, Law & Order, Sex & The City, The Wire, and more! ALL PROFITS from the event go to the Motion Picture and Television Fund to benefit non-writers being financially affected by the strike. Jan 31st - Feb 3rd at The Macha Theatre. Tickets are now available at Plays411, or by calling the reservation hotline at 323.960.1052.


FREAKIN' SWEET: An Evening with Family Guy's Alex Borstein & Seth MacFarlane to Benefit the Actors Fund and the WGA East Strike Fund at the legendary Carnegie Hall. This one-night-only evening of music and comedy will include wild renditions of pop anthems, musical theater numbers, and a special guest appearance by the incomparable PATTI LUPONE and JANEANE GAROFALO. Who knows? Maybe your favorite FAMILY GUY characters will stop by for a song or two.

Warning: this production contains adult language and situations that may not be suitable for all ages. Recommended for mature audiences only.

Get tickets for 25% off by visiting carnegiehall.org and using code WGA6020. Or CALL CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 and use code WGA6020 (available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm).

TEACHING THURSDAYS AT WARNER BROS: Every Thursday writers of various genres are invited to join us at Gate 2 at Warner Bros, making themselves available to discuss story, structure and everything in between. This Thursday will be focused on multi-camera comedies. 9 AM-12 PM, Warner Bros Gate 2. For more info email Priya at http://wbteachingthursdays@gmail.com.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1:
"BANDAID": A Musical Tribute to Benefit the Industry Strike Fund. No cover charge. Cash bar. Donations graciously accepted at the door for the Industry Strike Fund. NO ONE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS. Featuring INCENDIO, THE POSSIBILITIES, LILI HAYDN, and cabaret chanteuse and WGA member, SHELLY GOLDSTEIN. 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm at Busby's East, 5364 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, 90036.

HOLLYWOOD WRITERS TAKE THE STAGE AT iO WEST IN HOLLYWOOD: WGA Member Brett Paesel (Mr. Show with Bob and Dave) will take the stage with fellow writers Bob Odenkirk (Saturday Night Live), Dana Gould (The Simpsons) and Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm) in a show called "Hardly Working" as they share their clever and hilarious wordsmithing on a multitude of subjects. Half the box goes to the WGA Industry Support Fund. 8pm at 6366 Hollywood Blvd. For tickets call 323-962-7560. Check out the website at iowest.com.

iO WEST PRESENTS "TALK SHOW: THE TALK SHOW": Hosted by WGA members Jordan Rubin (The Man Show, Crank Yankers) and Brent Bradshow (The Andy Milonakis Show), "Talk Show: The Talk Show" is donating proceeds to the WGA Industry Support Fund. On Friday February 1st, special guests will be John Landis (director, "Animal House," "Trading Places," "Thriller," "Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project"), Andy Kindler ("Everybody Loves Raymond"), and Anthony Jesselnik (standup). 11pm at 6366 Hollywood Blvd. For tickets call 323-962-7560. Check out the website at iowest.com.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 4:
iO WEST ARMANDO NIGHT WITH KATE WALSH AND MORE: Kate Walsh (Private Practice, Gray's Anatomy) and Reno 911 creator and star Robert Ben Garant will host the 3-act, 2 ½ hour improv extravaganza. Garant (along with partner Thomas Lennon) is a top screenwriter, having written the hits The Pacifier, Herbie:Fully Loaded, Balls of Fury, Night at the Museum, and the upcoming Night at the Museum 2. The Office’s Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, and Ed Helms as well as MADtv’s Mo Collins will be joining the cast of regular “Armando” performers including Tim Meadows (Walk Hard, SNL) for this incredible night with more special celebrity performers to be announced in the upcoming days. All proceeds go to the WGA Industry Support Fund. Tickets for this special show are $25. The show starts at 9pm. iO West is located at 6366 Hollywood Blvd. For tickets call 323-962-7560. Check out the website at iowest.com.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6:
SCI FI CHANNEL DAY FOR FANS & WRITERS: Jaime Paglia, co-creator of "Eureka" is inviting fans to join the writers, producers and cast members from Sci Fi Channel's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, EUREKA, FLASH GORDON, PAINKILLER JANE, and others for a rally at NBC Studios. 12 noon - 2 pm at NBC STUDIOS, 3000 W. Alameda Ave, Burbank, CA.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12:
STUDENT SOLIDARITY DAY: Film school and college film program students will join us on the picket lines at Paramount and NBC Burbank from 12 noon - 3 pm.

Monday: WGA/SAG Unity Rally

This was sent yesterday to WGAW members:

Dear WGAW Members,

As you know, we are currently meeting informally with the companies under a news blackout. However, we would like to take this opportunity to urge you to attend this Monday’s WGA-SAG Unity Day picket at Fox Studios in Century City. More info here.

This joint WGA-SAG picket event will once again demonstrate to the entertainment industry, the local community, and nation our continued support, solidarity, and shared commitment between the Writers Guild and the Screen Actors Guild to reach a fair and reasonable deal as soon as possible to put the entire town back to work.

Spotlighting the essential collaboration and mutual interests of both writers and actors, not only to create quality work but define and secure our primary role in the future of entertainment, this WGA-SAG Unity Day reminds us that the core issues currently on the bargaining table are vital and important to all creative artists, including writers, actors, and directors, whether they work in front of or behind the camera.

A good turnout from both Guilds will illustrate our combined strength and solidarity to show that both our memberships stand behind the WGA's collective bargaining goals and our Negotiating Committee.

We invite you to join us this Monday, as we’re all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone
WGAW President

John Bowman
Chair, WGA Negotiating Committee

David Young
WGAW Executive Director & Chief Negotiator

WGA/SAG Unity Day

Monday, January 28, 2008
Fox Studios
10201 West Pico (& Motor)

Picket shifts are 7-10 AM; 10 AM – 1 PM; 1 – 4 PM
*Dual WGA/SAG members are encouraged to attend 12-3 PM shift as available.

Sponsored by the WGA Union Solidarity Committee
and the Women’s Committees of SAG and WGA

Overheard: We Love Our Grips

WGA member "Chris" sends this anecdote. -JA

I have a nice story from the line that will warm the heart:

We're at the CBS TV City main gate today, and it's raining, with big, slappy drops. There's maybe a dozen of us braving it out for The Cause, but only a couple umbrellas, meaning most of us are getting soaked. (Someone asked, "What's more unappealing than an unemployed writer? An unemployed wet writer.") Then a car drives up with a bag full of brand new rain ponchos. The guy handing them to our grateful selves says, "I'm a grip. So when you go back to work, just remember -- not all grips are dicks."

Duly noted.

Tuesday Picket to Honor Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King

"In order to realize the American dream of economic justice and of the brotherhood of man, men and women all over the nation must work for it."

Dr. Martin Luther King
Speech to the UAW 25th Anniversary Dinner, April 27, 1961

The following from WGA member and strike captain David Wyatt:

As many of you know, Dr. Martin Luther King was not only one of the greatest American advocates of civil rights, but also, of workers’ rights. In the spirit of Dr. King, we are having a MLK March at Paramount Pictures on Tuesday, January 22nd. All studio picketers are to report to Paramount. (Except for those who regularly report to NBC)

This is a critical time for us. The Board and Negotiating Committee both have meetings on Tuesday. We need a large turnout that demonstrates our strength and solidarity to show that the membership stands behind the WGA’s collective bargaining goals and our Negotiating Committee. Also, it is a great opportunity for members to discuss recent developments.

Instead of your usual picket of walking in circles at each studio entrance, in the spirit of Dr. King, we will have one continuous march around all of Paramount Studio the entire day. There will be banners with labor quotes of Dr. King. Everyone who has a red Unity wristband, please wear it. We are asking picketers to bring their drums, guitars, tambourines and American flags to add to the festive affair.

Members of the NAACP will be there in support of the strike.

Paramount Pictures, Tuesday, January 22, 2008
5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Shifts: 6-9 am, 9-12 pm, 12-3 pm, 3-6 pm

Voices4Action!

For the past month we've been filming interviews with writers, directors, actors, futurists, DPs, and people on the picket line, asking them to talk about the strike. Oliver Stone looked back at his years in the business, remembering how it used to be before the corporations' greed overwhelmed the movie business. Maria Maggenti told us about the importance of residuals to her career. Tony Gilroy talked about fairness. Adam Brooks about fighting for the future. The picketers outside Fox just before the holidays, called for "Action!" We've heard these ideas before, but, for us, the interviews personalized the issues of the strike.

Voices4Action is also a place where we'll be talking about the future of story-telling in the new digital marketplaces. The congloms say they don't know how the internet will work, if there is, in fact, any money to be made on-line. Putting aside their disingenuousness, there is an honest fact that can't be denied. The internet is evolving and changing in ways difficult to predict.

The more people we talk to, the more we realize that the future is double-edged, holding great promise and challenges. We'll be casting a wide net to bring many voices to speak on this topic. In addition to people close to us (writers, directors, actors, DPs, sound mixers, teamsters, and designers), we'll also look to the outside world, to venture capitalists, technology gurus, and politicians, asking them where they think the internet will lead our business.

We don't expect to create a road map for that future, but we're hoping the voices we'll hear will inspire and energize us.

Parents Picketing

(The photo and following post are from WGA Member Cindy Chupack.)
Paula Schneider, mother of WGA member Lew Schneider (Everybody Loves Raymond, The New Adventures of Old Christine) joined her son on the Fox picket line for three days last week while she was visiting LA from Boston. Paula, a retired professor of social work, said, "I think there's a great social distance between writers and the viewing public. It's hard for the viewing public to be compassionate and imagine that the writers are workers for major corporations in the same way that most Americans are, and that this struggle, although it takes place in Hollywood, is the same struggle that all workers face. I'm excited by the thought that I was participating in something I deeply believe in. The rich shouldn't get richer without paying the workers their fair share."

Fox Employee Snaps, Assualts Picketer

WGA member Rene Balcer (show runner of "Law & Order" and co-creator of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent) may have a new ripped-from-the-headlines story to write after the strike is over. Today, while picketing at the executive gate at Fox (Gate 3), Balcer was pushed numerous times by a black SUV driven by a Fox employee, as he walked legally through the crosswalk . According to one of six eyewitnesses who watched the entire incident unfold on Avenue of the Stars near Galaxy Way, Balcer was picketing the gate at about 10:15am, when the SUV approached. The driver, a man in his early 30s, was reportedly involved in a similar altercation at the same gate on Tuesday.

According to another witness, as soon as the driver got out of his car, nearby Fox strike captains yelled to the Fox security guard, but the guard did not respond. Another witness confirms that as soon as the driver exited his car, Fox strike captains tried to get the Fox security guard at the gate to come out and help, but he would not. Then, the driver "got in Balcer's face," made physical contact with him, and Balcer pushed back in self defense. The driver fell back against his car, with a startled look. Said the eyewitness, "I guess he didn't expect a writer to defend himself."

The driver got back on his feet and came at Balcer once more. Balcer took three or four steps back to keep a distance between them. Other picketers attempted to grab and restrain the driver. He shook them loose, but then scrambled back into his car. "He looked a little shaken" and was waved through the gate by the guard.

After the incident, Balcer called the police. While waiting for them, a Fox supervisor came out and was shown photos of the driver that had been taken at the time of the confrontation. About thirty minutes after the incident, the LAPD Labor squad arrived and took statements from everyone and ID'd who the driver was. They went on the lot to speak to him.

IO West Theater Comedy Fund Raiser

HOOT, HOLLER AND LAUGH WITH STRIKING WGA MEMBERS AT iO WEST THEATER

While the more than eight-week old WGA strike is anything but funny, the staff at iO WEST is standing up and speaking out to provide some relief for the writers in the form of comedy and donations.

In a show of solidarity, every Monday during the month of January, iO WEST’s hit show, “The Armando Show,” will be donating half its box office proceeds to the Industry Support Fund. The Armando Show, which boasts a cast of Hollywood’s finest actors and writers sharing personal, improvised monologues that in turn inspire a series of improvised scenes, will be helmed in January with SAG/WGA performers and monologists. This month-long event will culminate in a star-studded strike support show on Monday, Feb 4, with 100% of the box going to the Industry Support Fund. The Office’s Angela Kinsey and Kate Flannery as well as MADtv’s Mo Collins are already on board to join the cast of Regular “Armando” performers including Tim Meadows (Walk Hard, SNL), MADtv’s Stephnie Weir, and Adrian Wenner (My Boys)among other notable iO alums.

“My vision for these shows is that they keep awareness on the strike and that they become a weekly rally for WGA members to be entertained and share camaraderie with their fellow union members,” says James Grace, Artistic Director of iO WEST.

Justine Bateman (Men In Trees, Family Ties) and Melanie Chartoff (Rugrats, Fridays) will be kicking off STRIKE! The Armando WGA/SAG Solidarity Shows on January 7th. Drew Cary (The Drew Cary Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway) will host the January 14th show and Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show) will host the January 28th show. Other anticipated WGA members joining the January line-up of guest improvisers include writers Kate Purdy (Cold Case), Ed Lee (Drew Carey Show), Cindy Caponera (My Boys, SNL), Rich Talarico (SNL, MADtv),

In addition to the weekly improv shows, Kate Purdy, an iO WEST performer and WGA strike captain, will help organizing weekly picket line support by the theater at picket locations in Hollywood and in the Valley beginning on January 7th.

Make reservations for a good time and a good cause. Tickets for the January Armando Shows are $10, the February 4th show tickets are $25 both can be purchased in advance at the iOWEST web site iowest.com or by calling 323.962.7560.

The iO WEST is located at 6366 Hollywood Blvd, between Cahuenga and Vine.

Baltimore & Atlanta Pickets

BALTIMORE:
Photo from Associated Press: Actors Sonja Sohn (left) and Jeffrey Pratt Gordon (center) from the TV show "The Wire" joined striking screenwriter Rafael Alvarez at a Writers Guild protest yesterday in Baltimore.

WGAe employee Karen Young sent us links to articles from the Washington Times and the Baltimore Sun about the picket in Baltimore - attended by members from many different unions.

Karen also sent us a link to a video of interviews from the picket line - produced by Liam Hughes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0cPLFkQYWA

And, Rafael Alvarez sent us a link from Citypaper.com.


ATLANTA:


WGA Member Chad Darnell sent us this photo, and emailed a report from the Turner Campus in Atlanta:

In all, we had about 30 supporters join us, made up of Atlanta actors, college students from the Georgia State University Film School, film professors from Emory University, family of WGAw writers and fans of television.

Our little rally made the local news for the evening.

WGA Member Rob Kutner sent us this photo of his dad, Steve Kutner, next to a guy with a beard at the Atlanta rally.

Taking the Struggle to the AMPTP, the "Scene of the Crime"

On Tuesday, specially trained picketers, members of the Criminal Writing Division of the WGA spread across Hollywood, marking each studio as a "crime scene" with yellow tape. Photographs were taken to document the event. A sister group gathered in Foley Square in Manhattan.

Sponsored by Rene Balcer, Bill Fordes, David Slack, Kit Boss, Mark Goffman, and Lynne Litt, a three-count Bill of Indictment was filed by writers from over 35 crime and police television series, charging the AMPTP with, in part:

"Conspiracy to steal the Internet and all revenues therefrom and deprive by fraud, trick, and deceit entertainment industry workers of their financial future and well-being, and with conspiracy to conduct meaningless negotiations with depraved indifference to the truth and with malice and mendacity aforethought."

Luminaries from the WGA and SAG joined in the rallies, shining a bright light on the "crimes" of the AMPTP.

In New York Gina Gianfriddo, Linus Roche, and Jeremy Sisto along with dozens of others braved the cold to state their case.

More than 500 picketers filled the sidewalk in front of AMPTP Headquarters in Encino.

Marg Helgenberger read the indictment. The casts of CSI, Lost, Num3ers, The Unit, Dexter, The Shield, Law and Order, Bones, Reno 911, and The Sarah Silverman Program were represented by, among others, Harold Perrineau, Gary Dourdan, Regina Taylor, Robert Patrick, C.S. Lee, Alana de la Garza, Benito Martinez, Cathy Cahlin Ryan, David Rees Snell, David Marciano, Rob Morrow, Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney, and Brian Posehn.

Rene Balcer spoke to the heart of the event when he said:

"As crime writers, we navigate a morally ambiguous world but we do so without ever losing sight of the moral center. We know what's right. Through our characters of working-class cops and private detectives, lowly-paid lawyers and prosecutors, we speak truth to power.

If we know anything at all, we know bad behavior when we see it. And we’ve seen plenty of it from the AMPTP in the last six weeks. We're in a war on the middle class waged by multinational conglomerates. We're witnessing an assault on fairness, on a basic tenet of American enterprise - that if you create something, you should share in its success. We went on strike in defense of that principle. And it's for that principle that we remain on strike."

After the speeches were made, the AMPTP was invited to come outside and engage in a dialogue. But the AMPTP was nowhere in sight. They weren't at the City Council Meeting the next day either. Maybe everyone had left for an early vacation.

Who knows?

If the AMPTP reps were looking out their windows on Tuesday, they saw that the picketers were unified, vocal, and focused.

They had heard the chants before. "We're at the table, where are you?"

They heard it again on Tuesday. "2-4-6-8, Counter won't negotiate!"

They'll keep hearing it. "Come back to table. Give us a fair deal."

The strike isn't going away because the congloms want it to. The strike will stop when the AMPTP comes back to the table and discusses the issues, fairly and honestly.

This report was filed with the greatly appreciated assistance of David Slack, Lynne Litt, Chad Daniel, Bill Fordes, Kit Boss, and Rene Balcer.