History Has Its Eyes On The SAG/WGA United Strike

I found out about the strike when someone tweeted that The Nanny was giving a speech that would go down in history.

Right after that someone else tweeted that the cast of Oppenheimer just walked off the red carpet.

The SAG is going on strike, and for the next couple of hours you see pictures pouring in. A-listers smile (some rueful, some just want to watch the world burn) as they hold up picket signs boldly stating their support of the WGA, along with their own strike interests. Meanwhile the CEO of Disney- the place of dreams- chides actors for going to strike at such an inconvenient time, and worrying that writers aren't being realistic with their demands whilst he gets a new yacht built. Dork.

What a time to be alive! What news! I mean the effects of the writers strike were starting to be slowly felt by Hollywood executives, I'm sure, but this actors' strike is going to be an immediate and wonderfully strange gut punch to the entertainment industry as we know it. Which is good! This industry of gluttonous bloat and studio exec suites stinking of rot needs a lot of punches. Punches up, mind you.

And speaking of punching . . . this is a site of writers, for those practicing and those enthused- you are supporting the strikes aren't you? Maybe you've got no intentions of becoming a screenwriter anytime soon, but you do understand how wide the ripples from this event will spread don't you? I mean this is going to be a major battle against A.I. in creative spaces, and that's going to involve you and I. See? I mean have you heard the shit they're trying to pull over there? Essentially killing the background talent field with some bullshit lump sum for a one time scan of their body that they can go on to use indefinitely, for ever and ever, without the violated party seeing a single cent for their likeness being used after all is said and done.

I mean, Christ, the cyborgs were supposed to just shoot us to death, not slowly starve us out and destroy the arts while we watch and die. I'll admit, this might be Skynet's greatest tactic yet . . .

And, don't sit there thinking, "Yeah like I'm gonna care about the bank accounts of some Hollywood actors/writers" on the assumption that a majority of them are making bank. Because they're not! Not all of them! Contrary to the reality Hollywood's PR machines have successfully woven into our consciousness, not every actor you see walking a red carpet is making millions. Some aren't even really making thousands. I mean the residual checks I'm seeing posted on Twitter . . . yikes-on-ice. This is work that needs to be done to protect everyone in the field, not just the mega-rich celebrity, but the background talent. The ones just starting out. You know, everyone! I don't even think I need to convince you that writers, even in Hollywood, are not a protected job force. I mean, maybe I do- up until I heard about the strike brewing, I thought that screenwriters got paid decently because . . . well, shit, their shows would be watched by so many! Their ink was the lifeblood of Hollywood! Should have seen my face when I realized that the advent of streaming was used to really shaft a lot of that work force.

But I digress- everyone who wants to continue trying to fight for a living needs to be watching what's happening. And everyone who wants to fight for a good, livable wage needs to be doing what they can to support and/or participate in this. Which means following strike captains on their social media (just search WGA strike on Twitter and find the folks who will identify themselves as organizers, easy peasy) and listening to what they're saying! Right now, most of the calls I'm seeing are for the most common sense things:

1. Do NOT be a loser ass scab. Stay behind the line- in fact, multiple sources on Twitter have stated that any non-union actors caught scabbing and even think about trying to gain union membership after all is said and done, can kiss that chance goodbye. This means if a writer gets a call from a studio about a pitch, an opportunity, anything . . . you decline. You ignore whatever numbers, whatever promises they make you, because when all is said and done you're going to have shown yourself as a person that cannot be trusted to work with, and will damn yourself regardless. Same with any non-union actor. Multiple sources on Twitter have assured that anyone caught scabbing that even thinks about trying to apply for membership afterwards can kiss that chance goodbye.

2. Show support however you can- mostly through retweets, sharing info, and- if you have the ability- donating to the various aid funds set up to help the ones on strike while they're currently out of work, or if the side hustles they've picked up meanwhile aren't cutting it with all the bills. Here's a list of what I've found, just click the embedded links:

Entertainment Community Fund - This fund is set up as a safety net for working performers/entertainers/actors/etc. It helps with health insurance, housing, and financial emergencies.

The SNACK LIST - This organization has been providing water, food, and much more to those on the picket lines day after day. They could always use some donations to help fuel the ones tirelessly picketing for their lives.

Inevitable Foundation - This fund supports disabled writers who are out there picketing! This industry is hard enough for disabled writers/creators to get into and stay in, so help out a little.

Groceries For Writers - It's basically as it says, this group gives out grocery store gift cards, as long as they have the funds to do so. So help them continue to do so!

Sony Picket Lines - A fund specifically for those picketing at Sony.

Derek and Molly's WGA Strike - The WGA West Lot Coordinators have a Target registry! You're there all the time, anyway, getting ten extra items you don't need. Alleviate the guilt of poor fiscal responsibility at Target by supporting picketers.

We're facing some historic times right now. Not to detract from the main topic here, but there's so many other strikes going on. And it's in everyone's interests for these strikes to succeed because . . . the more of us who win, the better chance everyone else has. The first step to cutting off this runaway trainwreck of reckless greed seems to be starting here, and I'm betting this strike is going to be one for the history books.