Strike Two...

Maybe it's just the east coast, but I have to say that 30 Rock didn't feel like a hotbed of labor activity this afternoon. There were a lot of writers--actually too many for the small "pen" erected by the NYPD. There was also an excellent band, a fine snare drummer, and the omnipresent inflatable rat. But somehow the rabble-rousing confrontational part of striking for decent pay didn't really take off (at least not compared to the last strike I was in--a 1993 action by a bunch of pissed off Legal Aid lawyers). Admittedly, this was the sort of strike in which a disproportionate number of people carry iPhones, and at least one had a croque-monsieur on the way to the picket line.

Still, starting tomorrow, we need to do a better job of being strikers. First, we were confined on a side street far from any of the entrances to the building. It didn't have to be that way--the NYPD pen was not our only option. (I confirmed this with the nearby cop who monitored us with a lethargy bordering on somnolence). We are allowed (in small groups) to march around with our signs so long as we don't impede traffic (including pedestrian traffic) we are also allowed to leaflet along the streets including at the entrances that border on the public rather than the private street. Next time let's try some of that.

Next, what's with our signage? A number of pedestrians I spoke to made the not unreasonable point that for a bunch of writers, our signs were awfully boring. And they were. Almost all the photos I've seen of the protests today show someone holding a sign that says "On Strike." C'mon we can do better than that. I saw a few decent slogans ("The rest is silence" "We want our word's worth") but far too few. Also, it's critical to remember that much of the public really likes what we do. When passersby found out that lolling around in the cold were writers for Colbert, The Daily Show or for Late Night, they responded with real support and genuine enthusiasm. The truth is that what we do is really cool and people like it and will support it. But it's up to us to make clear to everyone what they'll be missing. What we should be doing is writing the names of the shows we work on our signs. That way there's a parade of things people can relate to and will actually miss.

This strike is important and our position is righteous. Walking the picket lines with lots of talented impressive people is a hell of a way to spend an afternoon or many. Still, since we're going to strike, let's at least maximize our effectiveness.

Read more thoughts about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.

Comments

[joja]

For a bunch of writers, they don't seem to be able to get their message out very well.

First of all, what the hell are they striking for? And why should people care?

All the slogans and soundbites I've seen & heard about the strike sound as if they'd been prepared by John Kerry -- dense.

[mamajoyboy]

Kill the brain and you kill the ghoul

[JLag321]

I'm thinking that these signs are purposeful and brilliant - this is the quality of writing we will have, by studio heads and corporate jerks, if the writers don't get a fair shake.

[ReelBusy]

Hollywood moguls take pride in being dealmakers yet they can't make a deal to share even a thin slice of an increasing growing revenue pie. I guess their not the dealmakers we thought they were. Time to start dumping the entertainment stocks! Game shows and reality TV don't sell well on DVD at the end of the season like a HEROES or 24 so their cash flow is going to tank. SELL SELL SELL!!!

[TJS]

The writers need directors to "visualize" their signs and beautiful actressess and handsome actors to carry their signs and read their signs with emotional subtext. Then everyone will comment on how wonderful the actors and actresses interpreted the signs and how the signs represented the director's singular artistic vision. The actors and actresses will appear on the talk shows to hawk their role in carrying the strike signs. The directors will plan sequals to the signs, with bigger budgets and better effects. The words on the strike signs will catch on, be made into bumper stickers, and the bumper stickers will make millions. And the writers won't receive a dime from their words...

[JimReed]

David,

We are really into politics on this message board. Could you ask some of the writers for Jon Stewart or the Cobert report to write something for us here while they are on strike? It might help us and them pass the time.

[mommadona]

Ohmygod....you mean you guys have not a CLUE how to act???????

ONE) HE WHO HAS THE IRON BUTT WINS.
TWO) NOISE WORKS. REPETITIOUS NOISE WORKS BEST.
THREE) KEEP MOVING. IF YOU NEED TO REST, GET THE NEXT PERSON UP FROM THEIR REST.
FOUR) SMILE - WAVE AT THE PUBLIC - ASK THE BUSES/CARS/TRUCKS (SPECIALLY THE BIG DUDES) TO 'HONK FOR FAIR WAGE'.
FIVE) BALLOONS..­....FLAGS.­.....BRIGH­T BLINKY STUFF/DRUMS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC BUCKETS (handy for a seat also).
SIX) HIT THE CROSS-WALKS - obey the traffic laws, push those buttons, BUT TAKE YOUR SIGNS AND YOUR NOISE AND WALK AROUND THE CORNERS....

There - that's a start.
That's how the REAL union strikers do it.
Good night, and Good luck!

[lm945]

Nick Counter, chief negotiator for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said "... we made every good faith effort to negotiate a deal..."

"Good faith"? This television season is a goner and everyone knows it. It's in the best interests of the studios for this strike to drag out as long as possible.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from a tax standpoint, don't the studios get a better write-off for lost revenues because of a work stoppage, than because of bad programming?

[HLM]

Part two of 'A WGA Member Wrote That':

'There's no place like home'."

"Here's looking at you, kid."

"...Bond. James Bond."

"You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow."

- "You want answers?"
- "I want the truth!"
- "You can't handle the truth!"

"Made it Ma! Top of the world!"

"Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown."

"You talkin' to me?"

" Shane. Shane! Come back…!”

"I am Spartacus."

"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way."

"The horror...the horror."

"Get away from her, you bitch!"

"No wire hangers!"

"Oh, no. It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast."

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning...smells like...victory."

"Open the pod-bay door, Hal…"

"I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies."

"I'm the king of the world!"

"Yippie kay-yay, mother@#!%er."

"Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?"

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!" ...

"Frankly, my dear. I don't give a damn."

[HLM]

Here’s a Signage idea: One quote per sign.

"I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."
(A WGA Member wrote that)

"Go ahead, make my day."
(A WGA Member wrote that)

"You're gonna need a bigger boat."
(A WGA Member wrote that)

And so on – you get the idea…

"I am big. It's the pictures that got small."

"E.T. phone home."

"Greed, for lack of a better word, is good…”

As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again."

"...I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

"Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"

"If they move, kill 'em."

"Well, nobody's perfect."

"You don't understand! I could've had class. I could've been a contender..”

"I'll be back."

" I'll have what she's having."

"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night."

"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."

"Use the Force, Luke."

"They call me Mister Tibbs."

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

"Show me the money!"