Last Monday, as we pulled up to the NBC Studio in Burbank by a crowd of WGA picketers, it suddenly felt like the first day of school: I was excited about meeting new people and scared to death that they wouldn't like me. And that's how I started my week walking the picket line with members of the Writer's Guild of America who were, and are, on strike. They are on strike because the studios that produce their work are not sharing a piece of the online pie, so to speak. The writers simply would like a fair share of the profits, to be paid residuals for shows that are viewed on the internet in the same way that they are compensated for their work that is in syndication (re-runs).
And while I truly support their cause, the idea of driving to L.A. at first seemed like a crazy idea. Drive out to Los Angeles and picket with WGA members? But after more thought, it sounded like a brilliant plan. What better way for an aspiring television writer to find out more about the business, talk to writers, and (hopefully) make a good impression on potential contacts in Hollywood? With some time on my hands, I agreed to my Dad's plan (who I must credit for suggesting the idea) and we took off the next day in my parents' RV.
After signing in at the picket line and grabbing a sign where I quickly wrote "Colorado Writer for the WGA," I joined the writers. My sign was noticed almost immediately: my support was gladly welcomed by the writers, who were surprised and often shocked that I drove from Denver to support their cause. After a good, albeit exhausting, four-hour day of picketing, I returned the next day, and the next, and ended my week of picketing on Friday, Nov. 16 th. With the sun blazing in the sky (with a high on Thursday of 94 Degrees), I marched with the picketers for five days, chanting things like "On Strike Shut 'em Down" and "Hollywood's a Union Town." During that time, I learned many things. Here are a few of them:
1) Many people believe that the WGA writers are somehow greedy, selfish, or lazy. This is a misconception. Most of the writers in the guild do not work steadily, do not get paid millions for their work, and as a result, are constantly looking for their next job and working hard to keep the one they've got. The strike is a huge sacrifice, as many WGA members are now suspended from the shows they've worked on for months and years, and are, essentially, out of work.
2) Writers in the entertainment industry need a union for a reason, so that they can be treated fairly in an often un-fair and cut-throat business.
3) WGA members are innovative, talented, funny, and nice.
4) I'd rather be "down in the trenches" with talented WGA members than gawking at a celebrity actor through a crowd at "Fan Appreciation Day" anytime.
5) A red shirt: $8.00, Sunscreen: $5.00, Gas: too much, Lodging: Seven Nights at RV Park with Good Sam Card discount: $172.31, In and Out Cheeseburger: $1.95. Picketing with dedicated WGA members for five days? Priceless.
You can read more about Liz's trip at her blog:
www.thewritereviews.wordpress.com.
This article is a follow up to the article written by Dianne Lorang, Liz Lorang's mother. Read her articlein print in the November 15th
Your Hub or at:
yourhub.com, the Littleton edition.
You can visit Dianne and Liz's editing business at:
www.thewritehelp.net.