While many writers deplore the actions of the Showrunners who continued their non-writing duties as a weakness entering the strike, I have to applaud their action.
They are keeping their crews employed for an extra couple of weeks. Don't they have that responsibility, as executive producers of their shows?
In one article, Edward Bernero, the Showrunner on Criminal Minds, questions the idea that Writers create more work right before the strike and asks, "Could you imagine being in a widget factory and having someone say, 'Hurry up, let's make more widgets because we are going on strike'?"
Couple of problems with that analogy -- 1) the widget factory worker probably does not take home an extra $40,000 for creating that last order of widgets, thereby feeding his own family for a few more months during the walkout; and 2) the widget factory worker is not likely to be responsible for the livelihood of over 100 other workers who are not striking, but out of work regardless.
As I mentioned in a reply post on United Hollywood, I am hopeful that this week's negotiations prove to be more fruitful than those of the past. These sides were closer than they had ever been up til midnight before the picketing began. Let's hope they can pick up there and hammer out a fair deal quickly.
Both sides have made serious errors in their negotiations. Both sides need to own up to that, create a deal that is fair to the Writers, and get Hollywood back to work BEFORE the holidays!
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