To add misery to heartache, there is new development on the possible WGA strike front.
Now it appears that the Teamsters Union, which represents more than 4,000 Hollywood drivers, location managers and scouts, casting directors and animal wranglers is giving the WGA’s strike plans a major boost with a show of solidarity that could seriously disrupt local production, according to Variety. The Teamsters will call for all of its members to honor the WGA picket-lines and not cross them.
If the Feds can’t work out a viable solution between the Guild and studio/network management then the strike will occur this Thursday.
Wow! We all may actually get to experience what it is to leave a dark room and go outside our homes and theaters for fun and entertainment.
Go outside? Into the light of that big yellow thing? But isn’t that dangerous?
I see the light…it burns!!!!!
Nooooooooooooo! Look, I live in Alabama. If I don’t have TV or movies, I better pick up a strong affinity for killing little furry things or watching cars make left-hand turns for three hours.
Gah! Natural light! *melts*
This is a no win for both sides. The writers will never get back what they will lose from a prolonged strike. (The last strike in 1988 lasted 22 weeks.) The networks stand to loose even more viewers if the strike lasts more then a few weeks.
Despite what WonderJenn said above, there is a lot more alternative entertainment to be found now then anytime in the past. Just look on the web for podcats and fan fiction you have never had time for. Netflix and other rental services can give you a supply of movies to watch. Bit Torrent and other alternative sources can also supply you with entertainment. Oh yea, there is also this new thing called books.
The writers strike won’t hurt me. Only those in the industry are going to feel real pain.
Books are beautiful!!
Having been a big part of the “below the line” people for 22 years, I have been through the previous strike in ’88 and others. As exciting as the possibility of getting to catch up on my reading and seeing the sunshine instead of the inside of a soundstage seems, I can only feel the emotional rollercoaster ride of “we’ll all get through this again” or “my god! what are my other job skills?” Although I empathize with the screenwriters and understand the side of the producers, I can only really relate to my friends who have been laid off as of this morning and are panicked about how they will buy christmas presents for their kids. Thousands of us are scared and we are all making phone calls to help immediate victims of this strike-the crew. I honestly can’t help but feel resentful. After all my years of really enjoying my job-the crew,once again-gets the shaft. Hopefully, I can hold onto my house while the WGA and the producers decide who gets what.