Day of Solidarity

Today the WGC is organizing a Day of Solidarity for the members of the WGA. There have been protests around the world and here in Canada in Montreal and Toronto.

Notably, despite efforts from various local WGC members there's an Inexplicable Nothing going on here in Vancouver. What the hell?! To do our bit the writers here on set at RA have resolved to stay in crafty all afternoon if that's what it takes to get the message out.

I've been following the strike on the Dead Things website. Thanks for the updates Denis.

Seriously do something if you can. It's Wednesday so maybe you don't watch several of your favourite American programs. How 'bout watching a Canadian show. Or if you didn't want to do something so drastic. You could just talk about stuff, things like: "Dude, doesn't it seem fair to be paid for work that others are profiting from?" and "Jeepers, what will happen to BSG if this thing isn't settled soon?!"

Where the writer talks of what he little knows.

I've been asked a lot lately about the WGA writers' strike. Is there some way the strike will benefit us, film and television writers north of the border?

All I know about it I've been reading from Denis's website.

Although I can't honestly say what effect the strike will have on Canadian writers, the effects are certainly rippling through the Canadian film and television industry.

And they're not good.

We're in the middle of shooting the last five episodes of season three and on set this morning I was told that there are no fewer than three shows have been canceled or put on indefinite hiatus here in Vancouver: Bionic Woman, Aliens in America, and... break heart, I prithee, break... BattleStar Galactica! And that's just today. Hundreds of jobs, poof.

So, no, it's not good for the men and women, our friends and co-workers, trying to make a living in production services here in Canada. How could that be good for us?

Sadly, our brothers and sisters in the WGA have a hard fight ahead of them and it's not going to be over quickly I'm afraid.

Keep the faith.