#WGAeast

[dduane]

Hello.

I've seen you posting detailed information about the WGA strike and wondered if you had any suggestions as to how those of us not directly involved can show our support for the Union?

Okay, bearing in mind that all this is entirely subjective at the moment (and so far lacking any more useful input from other sources): a few thoughts.

This will be my third WGA strike. (My first one was in 1988, just after I'd made my first live action sale—s1e6 of ST:TNG). And the thought keeps occurring to me at the moment that this time out, there's a potentially gamechanging player on the field that wasn't there before: truly pervasive social media.

(Adding a cut here, because this goes on a bit...)

In 2007, social media as we now understand it was still in its cradle. Now, though, those of us who're striking can make our voices much more widely heard. And so can those of us who're not, but just want to show solidarity. Last time, the AMPTP was able to do pretty much what it wanted without the public noticing or having even a medium-profile way to make their feelings known. But this time? Not so much.

So as an otherwise uninvolved person who wants to show solidarity, I'd start with something seemingly low-value. If I was on Twitter, I'd start routinely tweeting about the strike and my support for it—not obsessively, just persistently, a couple/few times a week—using the Twitter hashtags that are gaining ground even now, such as #DoTheWriteThing (and of course #WGAStrike). I would make sure I was following @WGAEast and @WGAWest, to keep an eye on what's going on.

Additionally: I would start politely, but repeatedly—again, maybe once or twice a week at least, and not stopping—tweeting the various major players in the AMPTP, especially the streamers: Amazon, Netflix, Hulu et al. I would start suggesting that their current attitude toward the WGA's contract negotiations is not only unrealistic but potentially (for the AMPTP) bad for business. (And self-destructive, too, as if this goes on much longer in this vein, they'll be seemingly eagerly casting themselves as The Baddies.) I would suggest that their bad behavior, if not amended by them coming to the table to bargain in good faith, might start affecting both my interest in their shows and my willingness to keep paying unreasonable people for access to them.

I should emphasize here that so far there've been no formal calls from anyone for boycotts or subscription cancellations. For the moment, this strikes me as wise. The point for WGA-friendly observers, right now, would be to keep what's happening to the writers visible: to keep bringing it up: to refuse to allow it to be swept under the rug. The "They only want two cents on the dollar!" angle seems potentially useful the more it's repeated. The point is to keep the repetition going: to make it plain, day after day, that the other side's being not just unreasonable, but greedy. Day after day, and week after week, and (if necessary: please Thoth may it not be...) month after month.

And tweeting is hardly all that can be done. Email is cheap and easy. But actual letters, written on actual paper and mailed, can still create a surprising amount of attention in a corporate office. (The saying in TV used to be that for every person who actually writes in about an issue, there are ten, or a hundred, who feel the same way but never got around to it.) Write letters to all the AMPTP members' CEOs, and make your feelings on the WGA's core demands politely plain. ...Especially when those CEOs collectively made almost three-quarters of a billion-with-a-B dollars in salaries last year, when many of the writers working on their shows can't afford rent.

After that: here's another thought, a little more physical. If by chance you're in an area where one or the other of the Guilds are picketing: turn out and support them! Honk when you pass: and if you're interested, show up and offer to walk the picket lines with them. These things get noticed. (In 2007 a bunch of us, both Guild members and non-, caused significant astonishment by turning out to picket AMPTP members' offices in Dublin.)

...Obviously not all that many people are going to be positioned, in terms of location or their own work and time commitments, to show up physically. But online? Find ways to keep this issue visible. The AMPTP wants this to go quiet, wants people to get bored with it, wants people to find reasons to blame the writers. They've tried spinning the story that way before. Don't let them pull that shit. Find ways to back those who're calling them on that, publicly. They do respond to this kind of thing (though they may strenuously deny it). If enough attention continues to be paid by the general public, they will blink—if sometimes excruciatingly slowly, as Disney began to blink over the dispute tagged #DisneyMustPay.

As viewers, and as viewers who pay for subscriptions to things, we far outnumber them. Help be a part of making the AMPTP understand that this quest for a truly fair deal is not going to go away. And the longer they try to act like the Guild's negotiation positions are beneath their notice, the more it's going to hurt them, and the stupider and greedier it's going to make them look.

...That's all I've got for the moment, as I need some lunch. :) ...But I hope this has helped. And thanks for your concern, and your desire to stand in solidarity with us! It's so welcome. :)

ETA: here's a link to the Guild's social media toolkit, for those who'd like to change PFPs or icons, etc., to show their support.

#Writers Guild strike #DoTheWriteThing #WGAStrong

[chirpsythismorning]

This is everything the Stranger Things writers have posted publicly about the WGA strike:

TIMELINE

May 3rd:

Stranger Things writer Caitlin Schneiderhan tweets picture from personal Twitter account of sign from the strike that reads 'Pay us or Steve Harrington is toast'

May 6th:

Official Stranger Writers Twitter account makes post on behalf of the Duffers Brothers. They have since pinned this tweet to their profile. "Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we're excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then -- over and out. #wgastrong

Bonus:

May 12th:

Stranger Things writer Kate Trefry posts picture from personal Tumblr account of sign that reads, 'Byler won’t write itself'

As far as I know, the two writers that posted on their personal socials are the only writers from ST that even have personal accounts that are public, whereas the rest of the writers do not.

What does make me take a pause though, is that, while yes they did post these pictures from their personal accounts, which is about as official as it gets, they also cryptically did not include themselves in said pictures...

This just got me thinking about how Stranger Things is quite literally Netflix and vise versa. They are practically one in the same, where one without the other just doesn't make sense.

While this conflict of interest might run deep for many writers out there fearing to speak out against their employer, for us, the consumers, the fans, we as a collective have so much more power than we realize.

In contrast to the writers, streamers can't just fire their consumer base sometime down the line, out of spite for speaking out. Without consumers, neither Stranger Things nor Netflix would be what it is today.

We have the affordance of being able to speak up the loudest of anyone. And so why wouldn't we take advantage of that?

There are so many people out there protesting: writers, actors, others in the industry and even outside of it who are also taking a stand, many who need support so that they can continue to fight in the upcoming days, weeks, months, without being deterred by corporations that are making them feel greedy for demanding a contract that at most, asks that they be paid fairly.

And so I want to encourage anyone that is reading this, but fellow fans of Stranger Things especially, who have so much power in this strike when it comes to getting Netflix's attention, to consider taking the time to do whatever you can individually + with the masses as a community in order to best support the strike.

Follow the Strike! If you're active on various social media already, please be sure to follow the official accounts advocating for the strike via Instagram (@writersguildwest/@wgaeast), via Twitter (@WGAWest/@WGAEast). Engage with posts from folks that are out there daily, many with whom you can find by following tags like #WGAStrong, #WGAStrike and #WritersStrike. Although most fans are not able to join in picketing themselves, we can at least recognize all of those out there's individual efforts and do our best to show that we're paying attention and listening!

Spread the word! Show support any way you can by sharing posts and articles about the strike, or even fun memes to inform others in a more engaging way. This is the official site for the WGA strike if you want to learn more about what’s going on before diving in! And make sure to stay up-to-date here as things continue to unfold!

Donate! The Entertainment Community Fund is endorsed by the WGA for anyone that wants to support those affected by the strike financially. And this thread on Twitter is an incredible resourse, as it provides an ‘easy, one-click, stress-free, accessible-to-all-budgets’ ways you can support folks on the front lines.

Also! Consider donating through this link for the Entertainment Community Fund, where the money donated still goes directly to that fund, this is just an organizing page for Stranger Things fans specifically! By allowing fans to see how much of an impact we make as a collective, in real time, this could encourage even more ST fans to want to contribute. In a best case scenario, if this GoFundMe were to reach impressive proportions of donations from fans, that could lead to news outlets reporting on it, which could allow an opportunity for even more eyes on the strike, while also even more importantly being able to provide financial support to those that need it.

Trend! On social media, use #StrangerFansforWGA to trend or even just to reach other fans also looking to come together to support the strike!

While I know this post probably wont reach anywhere outside of Tumblr, I want to make a point to encourage those of you that are on other platforms to inform fans in those spaces about the strike and what they can do to help!

We might not all agree on everything, but I think we can agree on at least one thing... @Netflix & all major streamers and networks out there, who are still refusing to make a fair deal: PAY YOUR WRITERS!

In the mean time, if you're interested in working on different ideas for initiates we can carry out as a fandom, please reach out to me! I might only one person and I might not have all the answers and solutions, but I do know that with more of us working together, our odds of making an impact are much greater!

Over and out!

#byler #stranger things #strangerfansforwga #wga strike #writers strike #st writers #duffer brothers #twitter #tiktok #reddit #netflix #PAY YOUR WRITERS #I am more than happy to discuss ideas for how we can come together as a fandom to have an impact #things we can do and work together to accomplish #anyone that already has personal initiatives for fans related to the strike please reblog with details if you want and i will share! #i know some fans were donating funds in exchange for artprints with their owrk #stuff like that is wonderful #supporting artists regardless is so important and so anything like that I would love to know about! #also i would not be against getting money for blimp to fly over netflix calling out ted sarandos #blip... #full disclosure i have just donated $29 to the entertainment community fund through the gofundme! #right now we are over halfway to the $500 goal #hoping the gofundme can reach its goal sooner than later #that way the money can be allocated instead of just sitting there #to those that can't donate!? No pressure!!! #this is just meant to be an option for those that want to and are able to at this point in time #a lot of the fandom brings so much value to these spaces #with the time and dedication we all put into supporting the show FOR FREE #I believe we can use that skill to our advantage #and that arguably has just as much value and impact as money

[fans4wga]

WGA talks set to resume Friday

[ID: Writers Guild of America, East @/WGAEast tweet from August 2, 2023 that reads, "The AMPTP, through Carol Lombardini, reached out to the WGA and requested a meeting this Friday to discuss negotiations. We’ll be back in communication sometime after the meeting with further information. As we’ve said before, be wary of rumors. #WGAstrike"

Some reminders:

-Any info on the negotiations that does not come from the WGA might be a studio leak meant to disrupt and divide the union. Get your news from the WGA West/WGA East directly.

-We're coming up on 100 days of the 2023 strike; while the 2007 strike lasted 100 days too, earlier strikes lasted longer. We simply don't know if these negotiations will lead to a deal yet.

#amptp #fans4wga #wga strike #writers strike

[captainofthetidesbreath]

for the record, because I keep seeing people encouraging this on Twitter: as of May 2, 2023, 9:30pm ET, the WGA has not called for a boycott, they have not called on people to cancel their streaming subscriptions, they have not called on people to refuse to watch movies or shows, scripted or unscripted.

do not participate in or organize boycotts or mass cancellations outside of the union's direction. mass actions outside of their guidance is not helpful and does not support them. a boycott and a picket line are not the same thing. honor the picket lines and do not cross them, but there is currently no boycott.

keep an eye on the @WGAWest and @WGAEast on Twitter and the WGA Contract 2023 website for updates and announcements.

[911whatsyourgratitude]

Want to Support the Writers' Strike But Don't Know How?

Here are some things you as a fan or hopeful screenwriter can do to help with the writers' strike.

Please do watch shows when they air!

This material has already been created and negotiated which means the writers get paid from that viewership. For those who don't remember the writers' strike in 2007, many networks bought the rights to rerun seasons of an old series such as when CBS aired the first season of Dexter.

Repost and share videos and content on social media from the WGAWest and WGAEast accounts!

As many of you know, the more traction a post gets the more likely it is to reach other people.

Sign as many WGA affiliated petitions as you can!

It's easy! Many of them are online.

Fans are welcome to come to the picket lines!

Everyone is welcome to attend however many picket lines have an RVSP link. All pre WGA Writers are encouraged to come (a lot of writers joke that it's a networking opportunity!)

Not in LA or New York? That's okay!

Several cities in states such as Illinois, Georgia, North Caroline, etc also have picket lines.

Raise hell with the studios!

Many networks have material to appear like they aren't affected by the strike but most of that material is either reality series, game shows, and anything else that was pressured into being finished before the strike was officially declared. Flood their social media or write letters!

Prepare Yourself and Remember

Many studios are going to start releasing to the press that production for your favorite shows are going to be pushed even more because of the strike. Prepare yourself for that reality. While it is sad, everyone deserves a livable wage and work place protections. Our favorite shows wouldn't exist without the writers.

You can see more what the WGA is demanding on the instagram pages linked above.

#wga strike #wgastrong #wga strong #support the wga #wga #911 on fox #911 on abc #tv: 911 #911verse #evan buckley #eddie diaz #bobby nash #maddie buckley #chimney han #athena grant #hen wilson #madney #buddie #henren #bathena #911 writing team #writers strike #wga strike 2023 #writers guild of america

[thefirsthogokage]

SAG-AFTRA and WGA on the Line!

[Image ID: A tweet from J.W. Hendricks (@JW_hendricks) from July 14th that reads:

Let's fucking go. #SAGstrike #WGAStrong

Under that is a black and white image of a person in a hat, sunglasses, and a Writers Guild of America shirt holding a sign that says "Now We Have SAG HO HO HO"

/End ID]

[Image ID: A tweet from Brig Muñoz-Liebowitz (@brigliebs) from July 14th that reads:

Seriously excited to see our picket line chants performed by talented professionals who know how to project from the diaphragm. #wgastrong #SAGAFTRAstrong /End ID]

[Image ID: A tweet from Dan Hernandez (@/cubanmissileDH) from July 13th, 2023 that reads:

People think writers and actors are soft. And we ARE attention-seeking validation magnets. But pursuing a career in the arts is also brave, foolhardy, and kinda batshit. We have all withstood incredible pain to get here, and we can take much more. #SAGAFTRA #WGA #Solidarity

/End ID]

[Image ID: A tweet from form L&O SVU writer Robert Brooks Cohen (@RobertBCohen) that reads:

The much-anticipated WGA/SAG-AFTRA crossover has begun. ✊✊ #WGAStrong #SAGAFTRAstrong #DUNDUN

With a picture of him holding a sign that says in full:

In the studio entertainment system, viewers are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the Writers Guild of America, who create entire worlds, and the Screen Actors Guild who bring them to life. These are their stories. DUN DUN. /End ID]

Granted, there's also everyone in production, the set designers, the costume designers, the hair and make up people, lighting, sound engineers, etc. But I get his point. Anywho, the image of him in full:

I'll try to ID this one:

(link to first post)

[Image ID: Three tweets from three different WGA members from July 14th, 2023 that read:

Travis Helwig (@travishelwig):

Actors are tall

Mike Royce (@/mikeroyce):

a guy whipped his shirt off at like 9:01 this morning, we're in a different reality now

Jackie (Decembly) Penn (a strike captain) (@JackiePenn18):

We had like 5 actors do that this morning. We were not ready for it 😂.

[Image ID: Tweet from Justine Bateman (@justinebatemanl from July 14th, 2023 that reads:

This is what you get when you give over 100k actors a call time.

@sagaftra @WGAEast @WGAWest #ShowingUp

With a picture of many, many people striking.

/end ID]

[Image ID: a tweet from Will Landman (@WillTheLandMan) from July 14th, 2023 that reads:

Week 11, Day 74. The troops have arrived & gotdam did they arrive! Lovely to see so many familiar faces, all United fighting for a fair deal. The energy was off the roof at WB. I can imagine it was the same at every lot. We will win. #SAGAFTRAstrike #WGAStrike #DoTheWriteThing

After that are four pictures for their day striking.

Also, I just want to say for historical record: today was WGA Strike Captains Day, though idk if that was just at the WB lot or not.

[Image ID: a tweet from actor Christopher Gorham (@ChrisGorham) from July 14th, 2023 that reads:

Day 1. Again. I was there for the beginning of the @wgawest strike so you know we were going to be there for @sagaftra . Enough people at Disney today to wrap around the entire studio’s 1 mile perimeter. Here’s to the unrealistic militant minority! #sagaftrastrong #wgastrong

The post contains four photos from his time striking. /end ID]

Bonus: WGA West showing up for Teamsters on the Amazon Picket line:

[Image ID: a tweet from Liz Alper (@LizApls) on July 14th that reads:

When @Teamsters call, @WGAWest responds.

We joined Teamsters on their picket line at the @/amazon warehouse in Santa Clarita. Amazon drivers deserve fair compensation and safe work conditions (and AC). We'll see you next time, Teamsters. Don't order from Amazon.

Four pictures are included in the tweet from the day showing multiple people holding WGAW signs. /End ID]

Honestly, all this solidarity during all the strikes this summer is bringing a tear to my eye. I love seeing everyone standing up for each other and fighting together. Union Solidarity.is.stronger.than ever, and it's beautiful to see.

#sag aftra strike #wga strike #double strike 2023 #jw hendricks #brig muñoz liebowitz #dan hernandez #robert brooks cohen #travis helwig #mike royce #jackie penn #justine bateman #will landman #liz hsiao lan alper #liz alper

[colferpics]

chriscolfer: Proud member! @/wgawest @/wgaeast #wgastrike [posted May 11, 2023 - video via Instagram Story]

#chris colfer #instagram story #instagram #wga strike

[iww-gnv]

Fran Drescher, president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced during a press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday that the union representing Hollywood actors will go on strike. “It’s official @sagaftra has voted to strike. We will be joining the @wgawest @wgaeast on the picket lines starting tomorrow,” Yvette Nicole Brown wrote in a post on her Instagram page on Thursday as news of the strike became official. She added, “In preparation we all got together last week to create our signs. I was on sticks! When you’re out there without a splinter thanks to the perfectly placed duct tape, think of ya girl! #UnionStrong.” The official strike declaration comes after SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee’s talks with major studios and streaming services about a new contract failed, even after the original deadline to make a deal was extended by weeks and a federal mediator got involved. The strike is set to go into effect at midnight PT Thursday night, but many actors have spoken about the impact it will have before it officially commenced. On the red carpet of the “Oppenheimer” premiere in London – moments before the cast walked out in solidarity of the strike – Matt Damon told Deadline that a strike will impact his new production company that he started with Ben Affleck. “It’s going to be tough for the actors, for 160,000 actors. Nobody wants a work stoppage,” Damon added. “But if our leadership is saying that the deal isn’t fair then we’ve got to hold strong until we get a deal that’s fair for working actors.”

#sag aftra strike #sag aftra #union strong #news

[londonspirit]

Great strategy to break a union. But I wonder… Is there a good example of a ragtag group dreamers with a lot of skin in the game holding out against a cynical, overconfident advisory? Like, say…. an alliance… of rebels? Sticking together to blow up a giant battle… star? Of death? Which had a very obvious and simple design flaw? (Is that good? Would people enjoy that?) Or maybe the story of a determined ragtag citizen named, say, Erin…. Blockavitch? (spitballing here, we can work on the name) teaming up with a grizzled old lawyer (maybe we could get Albert Finney? Is he still alive?) to take on a toxic corporation and getting justice for many? (Sounds like that one could even win some awards if you did it right). Or a ragtag sports team of misfits who all have different agendas? And can’t come together until they figure out the owners of the team have aligned against them? (I think there are maybe fifty movies and shows like this? Because everyone absolutely loves them? Wonder why that is?) You know, classic, crowd pleasing stories written by humans for other humans. I bet people would like those stories. And they’d make a ton of money. And it would be nice if that profit was shared equitably with the people who created those wonderful worlds and ideas. Because why wouldn’t it be? We’re all in this together, right? Anywho, I bet the key to making stories like these work is establishing an advisory so transparently heartless, cocky, and complacent that absolutely every audience wants to see them eat it. Because I think everyone loves seeing working people stick together and, against all odds, win their fair share. Sounds like a blockbuster to me. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿#unionstrong #wgaeast #wgawest #goodstorieseveryonelovesandarehugelyprofitable

#david jenkins #wga strike #wga #writers strike #i fucking love this man soooo fucking much!!!!

[d-criss-news]

heatherrelizabethh: God these humans.

We marched in solidarity’s with the @sagaftra and @wgastrikeunite @wgawest @wgaeast

T-shirt by @ paper_eight

#darren criss #heather morris #kevin mchale #iqbal theba #jenna ushkowitz #romy rosemont #dot marie jones #becca tobin #michael hitchcock #brad falchuk #josh sussman #curt mega #sag aftra strike #wga strike #wga west #glee day picketing #instagram #video #aug 2023

[eggplant-avenger]

Here we go.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Screengrabs of four tweets from the Writers Guild of America West.

“The Board of Directors of the @WGAwest and the Council of the @WGAeast, acting upon the authority granted to them by their memberships, have voted unanimously to call a strike, effective 12:01 AM, Tuesday, May 2.”

“The decision was made following six weeks of negotiating with @Netflix, @Amazon, @Apple, @Disney, @wbd, @NBCUniversal, @Paramountplus and @Sony under the umbrella of the AMPTP.”

“Though our Negotiating Committee began this process intent on making a fair deal, the studios’ responses have been wholly insufficient given the existential crisis writers are facing.“

“Picketing will begin tomorrow afternoon. #WGAStrong #WGAStrike“

#wga strike #writers strike

[revengemode]

I should have clarified what I said my bad, I guess I meant that I feel like if he is going to be the face of a movie/show he would want to produce. If he does something like TDATT or Oppenheimer like you mentioned where it's an ensemble cast like that it would be different. I feel the same way about Z, if she's going to be the star of a project I feel she'd want to produce as well after Euphoria and Challengers

Tbh I'd love for them to start a production company together later on in their careers

You’re super good and on your producer points 💯

I don’t necessarily want them to start a production company together but if they do more power to them.

However I’m looking forward to Z creating more space and opportunities for Black writers/directors/creatives as she’s mentioned before.

“In 2022 only 2.2% of the top 200 theatrical screen releases were by Black writers, & none were by Black women.”

This is alarming to me!!!

https://x.com/wgaeast/status/1690113412788027393?s=46

[fans4wga]

Drew Barrymore show to continue despite strikes; WGA will picket

[ID: tweet from Writers Guild of America, East @/wgaeast that says, "The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on “The Drew Barrymore Show” is in violation of WGA strike rules." end ID]

What can we do?

Let's use this opportunity to tweet @DrewBarrymoreTV with constructive feedback (please don't harass or use violent language, but please DO express your disappointment!) Tell Drew you won't watch or interact with the show, ask her to use this opportunity to retract her statement and stand with the WGA instead.

Fans stand with the WGA!

#drew barrymore #wga strike #writers strike #fans4wga

[georgiapeach30513]

https://twitter.com/WGAEast/status/1780636381808631914?t=Zg9SK2RSEd54LxXJFPA1uA&s=19

[ninadaily]

nina : 

“it all starts on the page. it’s gotta be fair #wgastrike #wgastrong @wgawest @wgaeast“

#nina dobrev #instagram #2023

[thefirsthogokage]

There are many ways to help writers and others affected by the strike, including donating, signal boosting writer's posts, and cancelling your subscriptions.

This site has links to several places people can donate to:

Don't have the ability to donate? That's ok! Boost voices of those striking! Retweet writers talking about the strike on Twitter or Instagram.

Follow @/WGAstrikeunite on IG and Twitter

Follow @WGAeast on Twitter and ID

Follow @WGAwest on Twitter and @writersguildwest on IG

John Rogers (@jonrog1 on Twitter) is on the board. I recommend following him and people he retweets.

Some other writers I follow on twitter for information:

•Jorge Rivera (@riverag3000)

•Anyone with Strike Captain in their name

•Pre-WGA strike support @PreWGAStrike

•Van at @VanTheBrand

•Kit Boss @/kitboss (who's a writer and doing charity auctions)

•And whoever those people follow.

Do what you can, not what stresses you out.

Please boost this post.

#wga strike news #wga strike #wga strong #wga support #sag aftra #sag aftra strong #iatse #teamsters