#wgawest

[writergeekrhw]

I made another thing.

With apologies to Neil Gaiman.

[tuttle-did-it]

A few numbers for you...

Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor, made $308.2 MILLION. in ONE YEAR. David Zaslav, CEO of Discovery, made $246.6 MILLION in ONE year. Andy Jassy, CEO Amazon, 212.7 MILLION in one year. Bob Iger, Disney, 45.9 MILLION in one year. Tom Rutledge, Charter, 41.9 MLLION Reed Hastings, Netflix, 40.8 MILLION in one year, down 6% from last year. Ted Sarandos, Netflix, 38.2 MILLION, down 3% from last year. Brian Roberts, Comcast, 34 MILLION for the year. Bob Chapek, 32.5 MILLION for the year, 32.5 MILLION. John Stankey, AT&T, 24.8 MILLION for the year. Jeff Shell, NBC Universal, 21.6 MILLION per year. Bob Bakish, Paramount, 20 MILLION- down 49% from last year.

These streaming channels are making BILLIONS. But actors and writers are getting literal pennies in residuals.

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-ceo-pay-the-year-of-the-nine-figure-club-1235136814/

[jackventuro]

I’m proud and happy to share with you today my completed, printed and WGA registered new #screenplay for #CalamityCaper 😍 Best case scenario this is the next movie I produce. Feature length female buddy comedy. It has been such a fun project to write. There are a bunch of fun characters and locations and I’ve laughed out-loud writing and reading it. If you are interested in being a part of it let me know! If you are interested in reading it I will send it to you 🤓 (FYI… If you read it you must give me notes and tell me your thoughts and opinions 😁) The screenplay has been registered today on the first day of #womenshistorymonth very fitting for the type of movie it is. #nationalwomenshistorymonth #nationalwomensmonth #celebrateherstory #venturoproductions #screenwriter #screenwriting #writer #writersofinstagram #writerdirector #filmmaker #acknowlegeherstory #womenshistorymonth2023 #thefutureisfemale @venturoproductions #wga #wgawest @wgawest https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQlFc6P06a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dduane]

Hello.

I've seen you posting detailed information about the WGA strike and wondered if you had any suggestions as to how those of us not directly involved can show our support for the Union?

Okay, bearing in mind that all this is entirely subjective at the moment (and so far lacking any more useful input from other sources): a few thoughts.

This will be my third WGA strike. (My first one was in 1988, just after I'd made my first live action sale—s1e6 of ST:TNG). And the thought keeps occurring to me at the moment that this time out, there's a potentially gamechanging player on the field that wasn't there before: truly pervasive social media.

(Adding a cut here, because this goes on a bit...)

In 2007, social media as we now understand it was still in its cradle. Now, though, those of us who're striking can make our voices much more widely heard. And so can those of us who're not, but just want to show solidarity. Last time, the AMPTP was able to do pretty much what it wanted without the public noticing or having even a medium-profile way to make their feelings known. But this time? Not so much.

So as an otherwise uninvolved person who wants to show solidarity, I'd start with something seemingly low-value. If I was on Twitter, I'd start routinely tweeting about the strike and my support for it—not obsessively, just persistently, a couple/few times a week—using the Twitter hashtags that are gaining ground even now, such as #DoTheWriteThing (and of course #WGAStrike). I would make sure I was following @WGAEast and @WGAWest, to keep an eye on what's going on.

Additionally: I would start politely, but repeatedly—again, maybe once or twice a week at least, and not stopping—tweeting the various major players in the AMPTP, especially the streamers: Amazon, Netflix, Hulu et al. I would start suggesting that their current attitude toward the WGA's contract negotiations is not only unrealistic but potentially (for the AMPTP) bad for business. (And self-destructive, too, as if this goes on much longer in this vein, they'll be seemingly eagerly casting themselves as The Baddies.) I would suggest that their bad behavior, if not amended by them coming to the table to bargain in good faith, might start affecting both my interest in their shows and my willingness to keep paying unreasonable people for access to them.

I should emphasize here that so far there've been no formal calls from anyone for boycotts or subscription cancellations. For the moment, this strikes me as wise. The point for WGA-friendly observers, right now, would be to keep what's happening to the writers visible: to keep bringing it up: to refuse to allow it to be swept under the rug. The "They only want two cents on the dollar!" angle seems potentially useful the more it's repeated. The point is to keep the repetition going: to make it plain, day after day, that the other side's being not just unreasonable, but greedy. Day after day, and week after week, and (if necessary: please Thoth may it not be...) month after month.

And tweeting is hardly all that can be done. Email is cheap and easy. But actual letters, written on actual paper and mailed, can still create a surprising amount of attention in a corporate office. (The saying in TV used to be that for every person who actually writes in about an issue, there are ten, or a hundred, who feel the same way but never got around to it.) Write letters to all the AMPTP members' CEOs, and make your feelings on the WGA's core demands politely plain. ...Especially when those CEOs collectively made almost three-quarters of a billion-with-a-B dollars in salaries last year, when many of the writers working on their shows can't afford rent.

After that: here's another thought, a little more physical. If by chance you're in an area where one or the other of the Guilds are picketing: turn out and support them! Honk when you pass: and if you're interested, show up and offer to walk the picket lines with them. These things get noticed. (In 2007 a bunch of us, both Guild members and non-, caused significant astonishment by turning out to picket AMPTP members' offices in Dublin.)

...Obviously not all that many people are going to be positioned, in terms of location or their own work and time commitments, to show up physically. But online? Find ways to keep this issue visible. The AMPTP wants this to go quiet, wants people to get bored with it, wants people to find reasons to blame the writers. They've tried spinning the story that way before. Don't let them pull that shit. Find ways to back those who're calling them on that, publicly. They do respond to this kind of thing (though they may strenuously deny it). If enough attention continues to be paid by the general public, they will blink—if sometimes excruciatingly slowly, as Disney began to blink over the dispute tagged #DisneyMustPay.

As viewers, and as viewers who pay for subscriptions to things, we far outnumber them. Help be a part of making the AMPTP understand that this quest for a truly fair deal is not going to go away. And the longer they try to act like the Guild's negotiation positions are beneath their notice, the more it's going to hurt them, and the stupider and greedier it's going to make them look.

...That's all I've got for the moment, as I need some lunch. :) ...But I hope this has helped. And thanks for your concern, and your desire to stand in solidarity with us! It's so welcome. :)

ETA: here's a link to the Guild's social media toolkit, for those who'd like to change PFPs or icons, etc., to show their support.

[madseance]

Hollywood Writers Strike: Official Sources

The Writer's Guild of America has voted to strike, and I want to get out ahead of something Tumblr is bad about doing and encourage y'all to PLEASE get your information about the strike from the guild itself, not from random people on Tumblr telling you it's "actually" about this or that.

The WGA wants the public to understand why they are striking. They have plenty of info available that is written with a general audience in mind.

WGA.org is the official website of the Writer's Guild of America West.

WGAwest is on Twitter and posting extensively about the negotiations and strike. This account is linked from the WGA website.

WGA also has a Linktree (linked from their Twitter bio) with more information about the strike, including their own Twitter threads about various strike issues, as well as articles in the media.

WGA Contract 2023 is a website full of information about the strike. It is one of the first links in the Linktree above. It's a great resource if you want to get deeper into the subject. There is a FAQ.

Any third party explaining the issue for you has an opportunity to, intentionally or not, insert their own spin or agenda. Get the information from the source.

[fans4wga]

[tweet from Writers Guild of America West @/wgawest that says, "The WGA and AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement. This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who stood with us for over 146 days. More details coming after contract language is finalized. #WGAStrike". Attached is an image of a crowded room, over which the text TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED is placed. end ID]

What does this mean for us now? -> Contract language is still being finished and the agreement must be voted upon by WGA membership before the contract is ratified. Look out for more news in the coming days.

Also, now is not the time to lessen your support, especially financially! Coming out of the work stoppage, WGA members will still need financial and moral support as they get back on their feet and look for employment again. The best way to support the union members is to donate to funds like the Entertainment Community Fund and the Green Envelope Grocery Aid, which will continue to provide grants.

Edit to add: Also, SAG-AFTRA is still on strike so please do continue to support the actors! They will most likely head into negotiations after the WGA deal has been finalized.

[chirpsythismorning]

This is everything the Stranger Things writers have posted publicly about the WGA strike:

TIMELINE

May 3rd:

Stranger Things writer Caitlin Schneiderhan tweets picture from personal Twitter account of sign from the strike that reads 'Pay us or Steve Harrington is toast'

May 6th:

Official Stranger Writers Twitter account makes post on behalf of the Duffers Brothers. They have since pinned this tweet to their profile. "Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we're excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then -- over and out. #wgastrong

Bonus:

May 12th:

Stranger Things writer Kate Trefry posts picture from personal Tumblr account of sign that reads, 'Byler won’t write itself'

As far as I know, the two writers that posted on their personal socials are the only writers from ST that even have personal accounts that are public, whereas the rest of the writers do not.

What does make me take a pause though, is that, while yes they did post these pictures from their personal accounts, which is about as official as it gets, they also cryptically did not include themselves in said pictures...

This just got me thinking about how Stranger Things is quite literally Netflix and vise versa. They are practically one in the same, where one without the other just doesn't make sense.

While this conflict of interest might run deep for many writers out there fearing to speak out against their employer, for us, the consumers, the fans, we as a collective have so much more power than we realize.

In contrast to the writers, streamers can't just fire their consumer base sometime down the line, out of spite for speaking out. Without consumers, neither Stranger Things nor Netflix would be what it is today.

We have the affordance of being able to speak up the loudest of anyone. And so why wouldn't we take advantage of that?

There are so many people out there protesting: writers, actors, others in the industry and even outside of it who are also taking a stand, many who need support so that they can continue to fight in the upcoming days, weeks, months, without being deterred by corporations that are making them feel greedy for demanding a contract that at most, asks that they be paid fairly.

And so I want to encourage anyone that is reading this, but fellow fans of Stranger Things especially, who have so much power in this strike when it comes to getting Netflix's attention, to consider taking the time to do whatever you can individually + with the masses as a community in order to best support the strike.

Follow the Strike! If you're active on various social media already, please be sure to follow the official accounts advocating for the strike via Instagram (@writersguildwest/@wgaeast), via Twitter (@WGAWest/@WGAEast). Engage with posts from folks that are out there daily, many with whom you can find by following tags like #WGAStrong, #WGAStrike and #WritersStrike. Although most fans are not able to join in picketing themselves, we can at least recognize all of those out there's individual efforts and do our best to show that we're paying attention and listening!

Spread the word! Show support any way you can by sharing posts and articles about the strike, or even fun memes to inform others in a more engaging way. This is the official site for the WGA strike if you want to learn more about what’s going on before diving in! And make sure to stay up-to-date here as things continue to unfold!

Donate! The Entertainment Community Fund is endorsed by the WGA for anyone that wants to support those affected by the strike financially. And this thread on Twitter is an incredible resourse, as it provides an ‘easy, one-click, stress-free, accessible-to-all-budgets’ ways you can support folks on the front lines.

Also! Consider donating through this link for the Entertainment Community Fund, where the money donated still goes directly to that fund, this is just an organizing page for Stranger Things fans specifically! By allowing fans to see how much of an impact we make as a collective, in real time, this could encourage even more ST fans to want to contribute. In a best case scenario, if this GoFundMe were to reach impressive proportions of donations from fans, that could lead to news outlets reporting on it, which could allow an opportunity for even more eyes on the strike, while also even more importantly being able to provide financial support to those that need it.

Trend! On social media, use #StrangerFansforWGA to trend or even just to reach other fans also looking to come together to support the strike!

While I know this post probably wont reach anywhere outside of Tumblr, I want to make a point to encourage those of you that are on other platforms to inform fans in those spaces about the strike and what they can do to help!

We might not all agree on everything, but I think we can agree on at least one thing... @Netflix & all major streamers and networks out there, who are still refusing to make a fair deal: PAY YOUR WRITERS!

In the mean time, if you're interested in working on different ideas for initiates we can carry out as a fandom, please reach out to me! I might only one person and I might not have all the answers and solutions, but I do know that with more of us working together, our odds of making an impact are much greater!

Over and out!

[captainofthetidesbreath]

for the record, because I keep seeing people encouraging this on Twitter: as of May 2, 2023, 9:30pm ET, the WGA has not called for a boycott, they have not called on people to cancel their streaming subscriptions, they have not called on people to refuse to watch movies or shows, scripted or unscripted.

do not participate in or organize boycotts or mass cancellations outside of the union's direction. mass actions outside of their guidance is not helpful and does not support them. a boycott and a picket line are not the same thing. honor the picket lines and do not cross them, but there is currently no boycott.

keep an eye on the @WGAWest and @WGAEast on Twitter and the WGA Contract 2023 website for updates and announcements.

[writergeekrhw]

So, the studios never intended to negotiate in good faith. They want to crush the WGA to head off a larger labor movement. They're spooked by how we split the agencies and are freaked out by the idea of a SAG-AFRRA strike and want to degrade our morale. No surprise.

Hollywood Studios Anticipate Writers Strike Lasting Until October – Deadline

[tuttle-did-it]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kristin Bauer (@kristinbauer)

[911whatsyourgratitude]

Want to Support the Writers' Strike But Don't Know How?

Here are some things you as a fan or hopeful screenwriter can do to help with the writers' strike.

Please do watch shows when they air!

This material has already been created and negotiated which means the writers get paid from that viewership. For those who don't remember the writers' strike in 2007, many networks bought the rights to rerun seasons of an old series such as when CBS aired the first season of Dexter.

Repost and share videos and content on social media from the WGAWest and WGAEast accounts!

As many of you know, the more traction a post gets the more likely it is to reach other people.

Sign as many WGA affiliated petitions as you can!

It's easy! Many of them are online.

Fans are welcome to come to the picket lines!

Everyone is welcome to attend however many picket lines have an RVSP link. All pre WGA Writers are encouraged to come (a lot of writers joke that it's a networking opportunity!)

Not in LA or New York? That's okay!

Several cities in states such as Illinois, Georgia, North Caroline, etc also have picket lines.

Raise hell with the studios!

Many networks have material to appear like they aren't affected by the strike but most of that material is either reality series, game shows, and anything else that was pressured into being finished before the strike was officially declared. Flood their social media or write letters!

Prepare Yourself and Remember

Many studios are going to start releasing to the press that production for your favorite shows are going to be pushed even more because of the strike. Prepare yourself for that reality. While it is sad, everyone deserves a livable wage and work place protections. Our favorite shows wouldn't exist without the writers.

You can see more what the WGA is demanding on the instagram pages linked above.

[thefirsthogokage]

SAG-AFTRA and WGA on the Line!

[Image ID: A tweet from J.W. Hendricks (@JW_hendricks) from July 14th that reads:

Let's fucking go. #SAGstrike #WGAStrong

Under that is a black and white image of a person in a hat, sunglasses, and a Writers Guild of America shirt holding a sign that says "Now We Have SAG HO HO HO"

/End ID]

[Image ID: A tweet from Brig Muñoz-Liebowitz (@brigliebs) from July 14th that reads:

Seriously excited to see our picket line chants performed by talented professionals who know how to project from the diaphragm. #wgastrong #SAGAFTRAstrong /End ID]

[Image ID: A tweet from Dan Hernandez (@/cubanmissileDH) from July 13th, 2023 that reads:

People think writers and actors are soft. And we ARE attention-seeking validation magnets. But pursuing a career in the arts is also brave, foolhardy, and kinda batshit. We have all withstood incredible pain to get here, and we can take much more. #SAGAFTRA #WGA #Solidarity

/End ID]

[Image ID: A tweet from form L&O SVU writer Robert Brooks Cohen (@RobertBCohen) that reads:

The much-anticipated WGA/SAG-AFTRA crossover has begun. ✊✊ #WGAStrong #SAGAFTRAstrong #DUNDUN

With a picture of him holding a sign that says in full:

In the studio entertainment system, viewers are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the Writers Guild of America, who create entire worlds, and the Screen Actors Guild who bring them to life. These are their stories. DUN DUN. /End ID]

Granted, there's also everyone in production, the set designers, the costume designers, the hair and make up people, lighting, sound engineers, etc. But I get his point. Anywho, the image of him in full:

I'll try to ID this one:

(link to first post)

[Image ID: Three tweets from three different WGA members from July 14th, 2023 that read:

Travis Helwig (@travishelwig):

Actors are tall

Mike Royce (@/mikeroyce):

a guy whipped his shirt off at like 9:01 this morning, we're in a different reality now

Jackie (Decembly) Penn (a strike captain) (@JackiePenn18):

We had like 5 actors do that this morning. We were not ready for it 😂.

[Image ID: Tweet from Justine Bateman (@justinebatemanl from July 14th, 2023 that reads:

This is what you get when you give over 100k actors a call time.

@sagaftra @WGAEast @WGAWest #ShowingUp

With a picture of many, many people striking.

/end ID]

[Image ID: a tweet from Will Landman (@WillTheLandMan) from July 14th, 2023 that reads:

Week 11, Day 74. The troops have arrived & gotdam did they arrive! Lovely to see so many familiar faces, all United fighting for a fair deal. The energy was off the roof at WB. I can imagine it was the same at every lot. We will win. #SAGAFTRAstrike #WGAStrike #DoTheWriteThing

After that are four pictures for their day striking.

Also, I just want to say for historical record: today was WGA Strike Captains Day, though idk if that was just at the WB lot or not.

[Image ID: a tweet from actor Christopher Gorham (@ChrisGorham) from July 14th, 2023 that reads:

Day 1. Again. I was there for the beginning of the @wgawest strike so you know we were going to be there for @sagaftra . Enough people at Disney today to wrap around the entire studio’s 1 mile perimeter. Here’s to the unrealistic militant minority! #sagaftrastrong #wgastrong

The post contains four photos from his time striking. /end ID]

Bonus: WGA West showing up for Teamsters on the Amazon Picket line:

[Image ID: a tweet from Liz Alper (@LizApls) on July 14th that reads:

When @Teamsters call, @WGAWest responds.

We joined Teamsters on their picket line at the @/amazon warehouse in Santa Clarita. Amazon drivers deserve fair compensation and safe work conditions (and AC). We'll see you next time, Teamsters. Don't order from Amazon.

Four pictures are included in the tweet from the day showing multiple people holding WGAW signs. /End ID]

Honestly, all this solidarity during all the strikes this summer is bringing a tear to my eye. I love seeing everyone standing up for each other and fighting together. Union Solidarity.is.stronger.than ever, and it's beautiful to see.

[fans4wga]

Multi-hyphenate QUINTA BRUNSON speaks to wgawest on the 3rd week of the 2023 WGA Strike.

[ID] We're able to bring a lot of joy to this strike...but [it'd] be ignorant not to, you know, acknowledge that people are out of work.

We have to remember what we're working toward. You know, we're working toward this being over.

We're working toward better pay, better living arrangements. People need to live. People need sustenance. You know, they need to be able to pay their rent, to pay for food.

If we keep staying strong, then, you know, we're actually going to be able to make this end sooner and get the things that we're fighting for.

It's just important to remember that we're fighting for something and we're not gonna leave here with nothing! [/ID]

[toonheartz]

if you've heard of the tree law thing going around where universal chopped up the trees wga was picketing under so they'd have no shade they also blocked off the sidewalks which is extremely dangerous for any pedestrians

here's a petition to construct k-rails to allow for a safe, temporary pedestrian lane

here's where that's linked on wgawest's linktree