Strike! (by eliza the bitter little pony)
So, the Writers Guild is officially on strike. They are striking for compensation for internet distribution of their shows and for a higher cut of DVD sales. I am personally interested in all of this, because I would love to have a job that put me in the WGA. I would love to have a desk with my own ironically sassy coffee mug and real decisions to make about something that I care about. Instead I borrow from the shared cabinet of temp mugs and make decisions like “should I photocopy those expense reports before I get a snack, or just slit my wrists?”
So, sure – in a little part of heart, I think “fuck you, rich kids! You get to take vacations and go home after work, instead of going to forty goddamn comedy shows.” I mean, don’t get me wrong – I love the comedy shows. Where else can I perform alongside people working through their misogyny or childhood molestation with ukeles and puppets? But after a while the romance isn’t worth the lack of health insurance.
I fight that pouty little part of my heart because I know that most of those fancy union writers were once where I am. (Except the dirty Yalies.) The well-paid, new-shoe-wearin’ fancy pants on the picket lines all paid a lot of dues to get where they are. More importantly, it IS shitty that writers don’t get paid adequately for their work on the internet or through DVD sales. It’s earning a lot of money for somebody – why not for the people who wrote it in the first place?
A writer’s life is not glamorous. They pour themselves into their work, culivating a slouch and bad vision – just to have some pretty actor go on press junkets and attempt to explain “what it all means.” The WGA represents the Cyranos who make us fall in love with actors who may have nothing more to offer than good teeth and herpes. Didn’t everyone want Cyrano to win in the end? Even if he did have a much better job and fancier hats than we do?
But still. I have 3 jobs to go to today. Where do I strike?
November 6th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
“I love the comedy shows. Where else can I perform alongside people working through their misogyny or childhood molestation with ukeles and puppets?”
I am quoting you in your own comments.
sorry.
Where’s your blogger tip jar. I give you 5 dollar for that one.