From The Front Line - Writers Strike - Day 4
Today went fast. I reported to Warner Brothers Gate 2 for the “late shift”. Even though I had heard that all of the strikers were going to mobilize at Gate 2, there are writers and supporters stationed at all the gates around the studio.
Unlike Gate 7, Gate 2 is bustling with activity. The sign in table here is covered with an amazing variety of snacks. Cartons of donuts from Krispy Kreme and Winchells are stacked three feet high. There’s a non-stop parade of honking cars, and well-wishers shouting their support. After 4 days, I’m able to make the observation that 100% of hybrid owners honk. Seriously.
Stepping out of the Gate 7 comfort zone is rejuvenating, but I wonder how some of my fellow 7-ers are doing. A few of us are here, and we smile, chat, and high-five with our picket signs. I meet a lot of great new people today. There’s a strong sense of unity and camaraderie.
Every day there are more and more people marching alongside us who are not in the Guild. Today, besides a noticeably larger showing of SAG members, and writers’ assistants, there are several kids, pets, and actual television fans! There are some better known actors, and most of them are here with little fanfare - they are here to show there support whether the media notices or not.
I can’t stress enough how much this support means, and especially, how much it is going to mean if/when the strike extends into the coming weeks.
All day there is a steady stream of friendly faces delivering pizzas, sandwiches, candy, and waters. Two fans of the show Moonlight, dressed all in black, arrive with several pizzas, and happily hand them to marchers. (I’m standing near one of the writers for Moonlight, and she’s ecstatic). One IATSE member on the way to his car quietly walks up and sets down a pizza. “Good luck”, he mumbles as he walks off.
A girl shows up with a giant box of candy labeled “Some ‘Sweet’ Support”. Another girl pulls up in a car and hands some candy out the passenger window. Attached to each is a small letter explaining that she is just out of college and wants to be a screenwriter. “So when the strike is over, PLEASE remember me and my FREE SNACKS!!!”
Late in the day, one of the strike captains relays the breaking story of a disabled Iraq war vet who was offered $20,000 by the studios to do a rewrite on a war movie. The man turned down the offer because of the strike.
On the flipside, there is chatter about the soaps hiring scabs, and about Vince Vaughn ignoring the picket lines to do a rewrite on an upcoming film. That’s so money of you Vince.
A “whistle-blower” pulls up to let us know that her son auditioned for a movie earlier this week, and that when they went to the callback today, the scenes had been rewritten.
Speaking of people showing their true colors, I want to give a special shout out to the IATSE members who tossed dollar bills out their windows to us yesterday. Your sarcastic bills are still sitting in front of Gate 7 on Forest Lawn if you want them back.
Tomorrow, the WGA is holding a huge rally at Fox at 10am. Police are closing off Avenue of the Stars, and all Guild members are going to report there instead of their usual posts. WGA West president Patric Verrone and SAG president Alan Rosenberg are going to speak. And if that’s not enough, Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, AudioSlave) is going to perform an acoustic set.
photo of "Tyro - Scribe on Strike" by Greg Fields, photo of Sarcastic Dollar by Heath Biter/LAist