Please excuse my recent lack of posting. Last Tuesday, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike. Being a member of this union and lucky to have potential writing opportunities in the near future, this directly affects me. Mostly, all of these opportunities just hit a brick wall and I’m sitting around more than usual.
Us writers are prevented from doing a lot right now. No shows are currently being written, including ones that had already begun planning for the fall season. Writers cannot work on any established projects and if you’re also an actor (hi), you cannot give any notes on lines because it would be considered a rewrite. Some shows have begun filming with completed scripts, but without a writer or script supervisor on set… well, just wait and see how bad season 2 of House of the Dragon will be.
I won’t bore you with too many numbers, but we’re up against 6 corporations that own 90% of what you see on TV. They also make a fuck ton of money while many TV writers struggle to even pay rent. On top of fighting for better pay, the WGA is trying to ensure that our jobs are not taken by AI. Imagine an episode of Stranger Things written by ChatGPT. It would somehow make the show even weirder. Thankfully, the Duffer brothers have recently shut down production of season 5 in solidarity with the striking workers.
You’ve probably noticed I end all my posts with “solidarity forever.” Solidarity is helping and supporting those in need even if it doesn’t directly benefit you. It’s having a mutual support of a common goal. When one group wins, everybody wins. I don’t have student loans, but I want those in debt to be granted forgiveness. I don’t have a uterus, but I fight for the right to have bodily autonomy. Other industry unions like the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), International Alliance Of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and Teamsters have refused to cross the picket line, shutting down productions in unity with the WGA.
I’m so thankful to be a member of both WGA and SAG. I know that even though I’m a disabled actor, I’ll be protected on set and be given the accommodations I need. I get great health insurance through the WGA that covers just about anything. I guess unions aren’t so bad after all.
The last writers strike in 2007-2008 lasted 100 days. Pray that this one doesn't last nearly as long because I’ll end up selling my wheelchair as spare parts for money. Sorry your favorite shows are going away for a while, but we gotta eat. Just rewatch The Office for the 17th time. The writers won’t get paid for it, anyway.
Solidarity forever.
-Steve