BY THE CREATIVE YOUTH NEWS TEAM
November 16, 2007
The Writers Guild (East and West) are about to enter the third week of strikes. Some of the youth writers here are among the Screen Actors Guild members. While Screen Actors are told to report for acting work, they are advised not to write. Still, many are unwilling to cross picket lines, feeling the writers would do the same for them one day. The actors are feeling the strike, too. Without scrips, sets are closing down and more and more actors are winding up out of work.
The writers need support. They also need more signs. On Tuesday, at Universal Studios, the signs went very quickly. However, the actors did get nice shirts to wear as they marched with the writers. Food is plentiful on the picket line - as long as you aren't a Vegan. Boxes of pizza and Crispy Cream donuts are everywhere. As strikers walk the lines, people pause in their cars to drop off more pizza and donuts.
In Los Angeles County, there are approximately 74,000 homeless individuals. Unless these individuals have jobs, a good place for them to go to get nice food and good company is the writers strike, where everyone is welcome. What would the studios do if 74,000 people suddenly started picketing them?
The sad part about the WGA negotiations is that they revolve around money for alternative media and not about the continuing problem of ageism in the industry. While America's youth are subjected to ageism on an ongoing basis, so are most older writers (unless they are a Robert Redford or a George Lucas). Sitcom writers over 35 often have to find younger writers to ghost for them. A lot of good talent is going to waste on the older end. The youth have experienced age discrimination all their lives and understand what it is all about. Perhaps, instead of making cosmetic changes in the contracts, the writers ought to use the negotiations to end ageism and guarantee themselves work into their 90s and beyond.
The strike continues and so do the pizzas and donuts. See you on the picket lines.
Copyright ©2007 by the Creative Youth News Team.
Home
The Writers Guild (East and West) are about to enter the third week of strikes. Some of the youth writers here are among the Screen Actors Guild members. While Screen Actors are told to report for acting work, they are advised not to write. Still, many are unwilling to cross picket lines, feeling the writers would do the same for them one day. The actors are feeling the strike, too. Without scrips, sets are closing down and more and more actors are winding up out of work.
The writers need support. They also need more signs. On Tuesday, at Universal Studios, the signs went very quickly. However, the actors did get nice shirts to wear as they marched with the writers. Food is plentiful on the picket line - as long as you aren't a Vegan. Boxes of pizza and Crispy Cream donuts are everywhere. As strikers walk the lines, people pause in their cars to drop off more pizza and donuts.
In Los Angeles County, there are approximately 74,000 homeless individuals. Unless these individuals have jobs, a good place for them to go to get nice food and good company is the writers strike, where everyone is welcome. What would the studios do if 74,000 people suddenly started picketing them?
The sad part about the WGA negotiations is that they revolve around money for alternative media and not about the continuing problem of ageism in the industry. While America's youth are subjected to ageism on an ongoing basis, so are most older writers (unless they are a Robert Redford or a George Lucas). Sitcom writers over 35 often have to find younger writers to ghost for them. A lot of good talent is going to waste on the older end. The youth have experienced age discrimination all their lives and understand what it is all about. Perhaps, instead of making cosmetic changes in the contracts, the writers ought to use the negotiations to end ageism and guarantee themselves work into their 90s and beyond.
The strike continues and so do the pizzas and donuts. See you on the picket lines.
Copyright ©2007 by the Creative Youth News Team.
Home