How The WGA Strike Ends
Today is the 115th day of the WGA strike, and not long ago our negotiating committee published a detailed response to the AMPTP’s leaking of their only proposal. It’s worth a few moments of your time if you haven’t read it. The writers are asking for a very reasonable deal. The cost to the companies is…minuscule. Especially when you take a moment and reflect that every show on their streaming service and every toy in the aisle has been mined from our brains.
I was what we call a pre-WGA writer in our last labor action in 2007, and there was AMPTP propaganda in the air then, too.
The differences between that strike and this one are many, but the most remarkable one is how effectively we’ve communicated what 2023 is about. We are out to save writing, writers and maybe even Hollywood from itself.
I am are not just a sponge that you can wring ideas and words from and then toss aside. This strike is about forcing a reckoning with the men that now run Hollywood. I am not an easily replaceable, I provide tremendous value and nothing happens without the written word. The town is on fire and if you are hiring me to write then…
Lawrence Kasdan wrote that for the record. Each production, is its own small business. Silicon Valley and Wall Street have come to town and decided that they can try to make more profit for themselves by taking from our plate. It’s all fucking wage theft.
We’ve said “Enough”.
So I have no idea when the strike will end but as promised, here’s how the strike will end: when we are viewed once more as partners in our productions.
Until then, we stand united behind our Negotiating Committee.
Check out Tony Gilroy’s remarks earlier this morning in New York City. He’s a second generation member and has been through the good times and bad. He’s similarly “over it”.
Thanks for reading. And for paid subscribers, stay tuned for more comics and a sneak peek at something that I hope will bring you great joy.
All the best,
GD
August 24, 2023
PS — My photo book Timing/Luck is available in limited quantities after fulfilling my crowdfunding effort.
And I’m shipping a signed comic from my vast collection of comps. You can help me declutter the office.
More soon.
You’re a lovely fellow. Thank you for this.
For those of us outside the industry, and not really knowledgeable of the inner workings, could you tell us the difference between how it works writing for Hollywood vs writing for the same companies only in the comic industry?