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Writers Strike Video: Who’s On The Line

Posted on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 by Peter Sciretta

Writers Strike Video: Who's On The Line

WGA’s “speachless” viral advertisements went online this weekend, and while I respect the idea, the result was unwatchable. A video of Sean Penn talking with no sound in black and white doesn’t nail home the (or any) point. When I’ve posted about the writers strike in the past, sometimes commenters have chimed in saying that “writers get paid far too much money already, they don’t need residuals”. And until not most of the videos from the writers strike have featured top level names, showrunners and screenwriters who probably make more from one script that some people will make in 10 years. But the truth is that most screenwriters will never reach that level. At any given time, more than 50% of WGA members are unemployed. And the lowest level writers have families to feed and support, and get paid crap. They rely on these residuals, and if the studios have it their way, writers won’t make any royalties off of Internet distributed content (ie the future of media).

If you have six minutes to spare, I implore you to watch this well made short documentary Who’s On The Line by Peter Hyoguchi. This is the type of video that the Writers Guild should get behind. These are the faces of the typical writers guild members. This shows why a labor union for writers is important. This video helps illustrate the humanity behind the decision to strike, and what is at stake on a human level. Watch this, Watch this, Watch this! (after the jump)

via: JoBlo
photo via: flickr

Comments

Jamie

Please, give us a break.

This strike is not about the plight of the 50 percent of writers who are unemployed.

Period!

This strike is not about the fact that many members of the WGA are faring very poorly.

Period!

The big name writers and the little name writers didn't walk because of those issues!

They walked because of the media residuals issue.

After the strike is over, there will still be 50 percent unemployment in the guild and many of the members will still fare very poorly.

And, yes, they all will get more money but it will change very little for writers who are already making very little.

If you want to keep invoking the "little guy" in the name of this strike, why don't you ask some typical non-big name writers if they think the strike is about them or the residuals issue.

Not if they agree or disagree with the strike, but what they think the strike is about. I don't think they are going to tell you that this is about them.

It's about a principle and I agree with them. But if you think it's about the little guy, watch how fast the big show runners agree to end the strike when they get what they want and the conditions for most of the writers are still THE SAME.

Have you heard in the last year, five years, ten years, any of these show runners writing about their concern about the average guild member? Ever hear any of them say "we should strike, most of our members are struggling."

NO.

The answer is no.

Peter Sciretta

Jamie, my point is not that the strike is about "the little guy", but my point is that the strike will help the little guy on an everyday level more than it will help the big fish. WGA protects the little guy. In the short doc posted above, listen to the guy who worked for scraps without being under the WGA.

Sure, showrunners will get rich just like the richest people in the world will get richer. But at a certain point more money is just more money. It's more gadgets, more houses, more travel. The money the WGA is fighting for will also help the people shown in this short documentary, the little fish, more than it will ever help a JJ Abrams. To be able to put your kids through college will mean more than any house Damon Lineloff will be able to buy with his residuals. The strike benefits everyone, and probably more so the little guys (on a human level). And that was the point.

TheDohDoh

While I think Michael Cera is doing the only "TV writers reality TV" show that needs to be made with "Michael and Clark," this video is interesting as it shows a side of Hollywood that is all too rare and purposely closeted.

If anything, I think this video reflects what a lot of middle class people are going through in America right now, not just the writers. A lot of people are hurting, and I think people will end up looking back at this strike as a reflection of the times, even though it's not directly related to the oncoming recession/economy per se.

This is why the internet exists: to break down the barriers and hopefully show that everyone is human and movies, as great as the art can be, are there to entertain us and not delude us. I like the one writer's mentioning of the strike in the '60s; those writers didn't have youtube et al to let their voice be heard, not even a nikki finke ("the horror!" some writer had to at least adapt that line from Conrad too, you know.) All for this type of video, strike or otherwise and we wouldn't see it on other movie sites, so thanks /FILM.

johnpolansky

dohdoh-you are kidding, right? The writers strike in LA/NY is akin to what happens to the rest of American union workers? It "defines what alot of middle class people are going through in America right now"?

Will these writers stand with the electricians, the carpenters, the pipe fitters, etc. who strike in the future?

I appreciate their plight but don't, for one instant, compare the plight of Hollywood writers to the

Expand your environment and/or rethink your scope. Don't be a flat-earther and assume the world revolves around LA.....

Sporty

Bush's administrations is breaking all unions. They don't want Unions because they take money away from the big fish. Jay Leno for instant makes enough in One week which is because of the writers and could paid the writers salary for one year with one week of his pay.

maponto

thanks for the video... i hope this strikes resolves with benefits to all... specially us the viewers...

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