The television show 30 Rock, that I had been shooting in New York
until we shut down this past Friday, has been one of the
best professional experiences I have ever had. Obviously, the critical
success of the show is a significant part of that. 30 Rock has
had the kind of reception that writers can only dream of, and I feel
that all of our writers, and especially Tina, deserve everything
that has come their way.
But any film, stage play or television show provides the
opportunity for the cast and crew to bond into a remarkably fun and
cordial unit. On the set of our show, we are blessed to have the best
shooting crew of any in New York. However, across the
board, everyone seems to recognize that the writers have a valid reason
for striking.
We finished our last pre-strike approved script
on Friday. The atmosphere the last couple of days was thoughtful and a
little sad, as some crew members, and eventually many
more, are expected to scatter in search of work. There is other work,
no doubt, but maybe not the kind like we have had up until
now, with a good group of collegial and talented people working on a
show that seemed to be growing, in many ways.
Strikes, and the lack of forward-thinking negotiating that results
in them, costs more than money. Sometimes, they cost
you friends and family, as well.
Read more about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.