Writers Strike - Day 10
a writer's perspective
“How’s morale?” “How’s today going?” “What’s the mood like?” “When will the strike end?”
I get these questions all the time. Today they come from well-wishers delivering donuts, some amateur reporters, some real reporters, and from two members of the Socialist party who have turned up to distribute literature…
The answers are “good”, “good”, “good”, and “your guess is as good as mine”.
The days are becoming fairly uneventful. People are settled in. Comfortable. The atmosphere is friendly and loose. One marcher today in Burbank brings Trivial Pursuit playing cards to entertain the group. Instead of just griping about the media coverage of the strike, we’re talking about things like where to get the best Mexican food.
I decide to blow kisses to anyone who gives me the finger. (only happened twice today) I think one person shouted “bastards” at us, but he was so far away, he might have actually been screaming “I support your right to an increase in DVD residuals, and for a fair share of the pie where the internet is concerned! PS, I have bigger-picture concerns about the dangers of six mega-corporations controlling all of the media!”
To break up the day, I start and end my shift at NBC's Gate 2, but walk down to some of the less populated gates in between. I haven’t been back to Gate 7 since last week, but it will always hold a special place in my heart. You never forget your first.
Fans continue to turn out. Several have made their own signs, and march alongside us. The snack table is covered with goodies courtesy of fans of the show Supernatural.
The Socialist couple asks me what a typical day is like. I tell them that I walk for thirty seconds, stand still for two minutes, repeat that twenty times, then eat a donut. I have to admit, that I’m a little leery when someone asks too many vague questions. It makes me think they have some kind of motive, or maybe they’re reporting back to the producers. (I can just see it. “The writers say their shoulders ache! We’re close to breaking them!”)
As for “When will the strike end?” Let me clarify one thing that’s been fairly misrepresented in the press… We sincerely want to resume negotiations. We want to find a resolution as quickly as possible. If you blame the writers for bringing the industry to a halt, remember it’s the AMPTP who are refusing to meet with us. The WGA has had a proposal on the table since Day 1, and has repeatedly made it clear that it is anxious to meet with the AMPTP “anytime, anywhere”. So the answer is…
The strike will end when the producers stop holding up the talks and come back to the table. The strike will end when the producers begin taking the WGA seriously.
photo of Second Life WGA supporters by srnelson via flickr