Two more strikes against two power players in showbiz today as fallout from the WGA strike. According to a report on KTLA.com this morning, "The union representing striking Hollywood writers has denied requests to allow their members to write for the Oscars - Hollywood's biggest, most glamorous showcase - and...

a writer's perspective It’s hard to believe that this is already Week Seven of the strike. No one’s talking about ruining Christmas anymore. They’re just talking about how they’re going to celebrate. (lots of eggnog and homemade gifts) After a much needed sabbatical, I was back on the picket...

In this video, Ms. Amos speaks out from her pedestal at the Nokia Theatre during "Cruel": Writers! Writers! Where are you in this fucking town? When you gonna stand up and stop sucking the cock of the infested corporate clone? Seize the power!...

So most of the shows are either about to run out or have run out of new episodes (raise your hand if you're sad that there wasn't an Office Christmas show this year!) What will you do instead? I could suggest that you knit quilts for poor children, invent a plausible substitute for gasoline, start that novel you've been thinking about. But you're not going to do that. You're going to watch tv. So let's talk about what you can do to not get caught up in the increasingly noxious diet of reruns and reality tv. ...

There are a lot of people out of work right now. A lot of people who are looking for odd jobs. Not all of them are obligated to walk in picket lines twelve hours a week, or are the object of scorn and derision by other people who are out of jobs. Here are some tips to survive, with your soul intact (provided you still have it!)...

The Guardian has an irritating blog post about LA writers. The gist: LA poet and novelist Rob Woodard wonders where all the good novelists in LA have gone. He points to the well-known "great" LA writers (Chandler, Nathaniel West, John Fante, Bukowski) and a few others, then deems LA literature...

In Which we Discover how the Golden Girls helped make stuff we like Have you ever written anything? I don't mean like a letter or a note, but something long, something good. Sure, you think you could. A lot of people do. But unless you're actually writing something, you're not a writer. Writing is really time consuming. It's not just about fun and ideas. It's about forcing yourself to sit down, get off the phone,......

Despite the ominous stormclouds looming overhead, last Friday, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly creator Joss Whedon and an estimated 350-400 people, comprised of former Mutant Enemy Productions staffmembers, actors, and fans (mobilized through Fans4Writers, with some flying in from across the country and as far away as the United Kingdom and Australia), picketed in support of the ongoing WGA Strike in front of 20th Century Fox. Mutant Enemy staffers at the rally......

Heath is out of town this week, so I thought I would take up the reins covering the strike. Yesterday, I was at Heath's stomping grounds -- Warner Brothers. Though I'm hearing from below the line friends that the negotiating committee should table the reality and animation writers issue as well as the no-strike clause (which would keep us from supporting other unions when they strike), it's hard to trust that doing that would......

After missing the horror writers picket last week, I made sure to head over to the Paramount lot this afternoon to snap some shots of this week's awesome (ly nerdy) strike gimmick -- STAR TREK DAY! Sadly, I saw nary a Klingon, but I did manage to spot a few pairs of Spock ears, a phaser or two, and of course, one Mr. George Takei (oh my). Beam me up, solidarity! Lots of pictures......

About 500 support and production workers marched down Hollywood Boulevard to urge an end to the strike that has paralyzed the movie and television industry. The "Strike a Deal" march brought together workers who are not on strike themselves but who have been laid off or are losing business as a result of the WGA strike, which appears far from over as it enters its sixth week. Today's rally and march -- from Grauman's......

On November 27th, the striking members of the WGA held a rally on Hollywood Boulevard. As I walked towards the rally from my car, I could feel the sound of the helicopters beating down around me. It was one of those silver fall afternoons, the sky distant like winter, but it was still warm. Walking up a side street, all the different Hollywoods crowded up around me – each taking its turn in a......

The AMPTP's offer is laughable enough, but Fred Armisen's take on it makes me laugh in the right way.......

Day 32 of the strike was "Bring Your Dog To Work Day". Apparently, it was also day 32 of we're coincidentally performing random construction right where you are attempting to strike. "Don't Make Us Beg" bandanas and dog treats were provided for the pets. In the above picture, two volunteers use the bandanas to protect themselves from the toxic asphalt fumes. We showed you the other day how the crosswalk at Warner Brothers Gate......

After a ridiculous bout of insomnia, I ended up walking the 5am shift. It’s an interesting shift, populated largely with Stragglers. At 5am there are maybe 3 picketers, but by 6:30, there are nearly 20 of us walking makeshift 3 hour shifts. Some members of the teachers union come and walk with us for a while before heading off to work. Literally every day, somebody comes out to show their support, and it never......

In the photographers own words: "The City of Burbank tries a new method of deterring striking writers from walking the picket line outside of Warner Bros." Photo by movie lover via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr......

Tenacious D will be rocking their soli-fuckin-darity this Friday when they appear at the WGA rally in Burbank. The rally, in front of FremantleMedia (4000 W. Alameda), is intended to help expose the “deplorable industry practices” of the reality show producers. The list of shows that FremantleMedia produces includes American Idol, The Next Great American Band, America’s Got Talent and probably a lot of other shows with “America” in the title. Writers of these shows......

a writer's perspective Today flew by. I stumbled up to the sign in table just before 6am, and before I knew it, I had been walking the line an hour longer than I was scheduled to. Perhaps I can attribute this to my newfound inner-peace. Considering all the hysteria that accompanies the daily ups and downs of negotiating, I have decided, at least for the time-being, to just let go. As someone said to......

"You see this watch? You see this watch? That watch cost more than your car. I made $970,000 last year. How much you make? You see, pal, that's who I am. And you're nothing. Nice guy? I don't give a shit. Good father? Fuck you -- go home and play with your kids! You wanna work here? Close! You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you cocksucker? You can't take this......

The overwhelming support the writers have received during the strike has been really encouraging. Look who's showing their solidarity now!......

a writer's perspective The strike is now in week 5. I had to use a calculator to figure out that today was Day 29. The question I get constantly is “How long will the strike last?” In a post last week, I wrote that I was hopeful that the strike would end before Christmas. My answer today is very different than my answer was last week. While walking the picket line has settled into......

This strike photo outside of Warner Bros. was taken last week on November 27. If they waited a few days, it would have been witty to play off the 28 Days Later reference... oh well, maybe they have that new Will Smith movie in mind... or maybe they just like to eat people. That or they have dermophagia (gross!). Photo by movie lover via the LAist Flickr Pool (join and add your own photos!)......