The Writer's Strike Is Ruining My Life, Part III: The Final Edition

As I mentioned on Tumblr, yesterday I went back to work. I was actually really excited to get back, only to find that one of my favorite people there had been fired because of "cutbacks", which are, as you can probably guess, the result of the strike. Some other changes have been made as well, which overall contributed to the feeling I got that this was not the same office it had been when I left. I love my job, I always have. But things have been going downhill lately, and I'm starting to wonder how much longer I want to stay.

Despite how much I do love my job, I bitch a lot about the business. It's fickle and the politics are insane. You can work your ass off, but if the wrong person doesn't like you, you're out. You sell your soul, only to end up getting chewed up and spit out. It can be awful.

I said all of that and much more in an angry tirade to a friend of mine after someone else who I really liked at work got fired a few months ago. After listening to me ranting, my friend asked me, "So why don't you do something else?"

I thought about it for a second. And then I told her, "I don't think I could do anything else."

It's true--plenty of other people I know have easy, less-stressful jobs that they enjoy in other fields. But I could never do that. I couldn't even picture myself having a normal, boring, every-day job. To be honest, it sounds horrific. I admire the people who can do it, but...I can't. No matter how miserable I may be sometimes, it's nothing compared to how miserable I'd be doing something else. And besides, for every bad day, there are so many more good ones.

As for the strike, this officially marks the end of any sympathy I had for the writers. I'm done supporting them. Like I said a long time ago, the strike won't be worth it. And it hasn't been. It's done so much more harm than good, and at this point, more people will remember it in a negative way than a positive one. And in the mean time, nothing can be done to make up for the damage that's been done.

The Writer's Strike Is Ruining My Life, Part I

Before I say anything, I feel it necessary to clarify: I AM A WRITER. My degree is in screenwriting, with a concentration in television writing. I've been writing since I could pick up a pen. I wrote my first play when I was six. (My mom and I starred in it. For the record, my dad thought it was phenomenal. It had 8 lines.) I've always identified myself as a writer, until I started identifying myself as a producer.

That being said, it's also important to note that I work and study in this business, and have been hearing about nothing but the strike for months now; even before it started and it was just a rumor, everyone was talking about it. So let's just say I know my fair share about what the issues are. And yes, I think the argument of the writers is grounded in a worthwhile cause. They deserve to get paid for their work like everyone else. It's no one's fault that none of these issues were in their contract before because no one can predict how successful new forms of media can be. Fair enough.

However. HOW-FUCKING-EVER. What are they fighting over, really? They want 2.5%. That's the number they're going for, which can be pennies to some people and millions to others. Is it fair that the same people who get pennies have to be out of work and
support their families at the risk of losing their homes, cars, children's education? At this time of year?

"Well, that's what being in a union is all about, unity through good times and bad." Alright, fair enough. But what about people who aren't in the union but are forced to be unemployed because of the strike? Like crew members? Who, for the record, don't get paid all too well either, in most cases.

And here's the kicker. When the strike is all said and done and finally a deal is reached, whenever the hell that may be, I'll let you in on a little secret. They ain't gonna get 2.5%. Studios and producers are not going to just give them what they want. So we're looking at something in the middle, like 1.25%.

1.25%.

People are out of work for months, millions of dollars are lost, some people's careers could be permanently ruined. For 1.25%.

So how is this affecting me? Well, who knows when this will all end, but I can cross that bridge when I come to it. I currently work for a talent agency, the name of which I'd rather not share. But we represent a lot of actors, big and small, as well as producers, directors, writers, authors (there's a difference), comedians, etc. And yes, business is still running because there are plenty of scripts that have already been written, in terms of film. (The film industry will most likely not feel the effects of the strike) But for all the people we cast in television, we're beginning to hit a wall. Things are getting quiet. Really quiet. And we all know what that means...less business=less money. Not good.

So before this gets any more lengthy, let me summarize why, exactly, the strike sucks. People outside of the industry don't comprehend how many people this effects.

So the writers aren't working and the producers aren't working --> crew isn't working -->actors aren't working -->agents aren't working --> agencies aren't getting a lot of business --> ME=FUCKED.

So yes, the argument of the writers is legit. But will it be worth it in the long run? Only time will tell. Personally, I think the answer is no. And in the mean time, it's making my life hell. And obviously, I am the most important person IN THE WORLD.