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Blog the Line
Now, it’s officially over. From DGA President Michael Apted’s statement, on the finally getting to “fade out” in the writer’s strike:
“The last three months have been painful ones for tens of thousands of working people in and around the entertainment industry, and like everyone else, our members are now eager to get back to work.”
And from the WGA’s own letter to members:
“We are profoundly aware of the economic loss these fourteen weeks have created not only for our members but so many other colleagues who work in the television and motion picture industries. Nonetheless, with the establishment of the WGA jurisdiction over new media and residual formulas based on distributor’s gross revenue (among other gains) we are confident that the results are a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future.”
More post-strike analysis to follow. Btw, in answer to my own earlier question, this was, of course, just the vote to the end the strike. The actual vote to ratify the contract - the writers haven’t seen all the fine print yet, member-by-member — happens over the next several weeks.
By which time — Hollywood memories being what they are — all will be forgotten. (?)

One Response
Penny Stames
April 24th, 2008 at 9:03 am
1I am one of the 300 or so Set Decorators here in Hollywood. Our ongoing job situation is that about 30-35% of us are out of work at any one time. Each time we renegoitate our contract we lose something. Truly we make less now than we did 15 years ago when the cost of living in L.A. is factored in.
Yes, there are those fortunate Decorators with years of experience who are able negotiate their salaries, turn down work and seem to have a job anytime they want one. I unfortunatly, haven’t been able to reach that status yet, and so find myself always sending out resumes, hoping for interviews and calling everyone I can think of for leads.
While I am happy for the Writers, I now find my own situation to be one of extreme peril. With one week of unemployement left, no more savings, a canceled episodic and no other job in sight I am facing a summer living in a box on the beach. Well, at least the view will be good!
This would have been pilot season, the one time of the year that virtually everyone works, yet where are the jobs? The writers win(?) and the rest of us………
Was it really all worth it, even for the Writers? I suspect not when it is looked at in terms of dollars and SENSE.
The entertainment industry is now run by big business and none of us below the line will be getting rich this year, or next, or maybe ever.
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