Mastodawn

Alan Arnold May 2, 2023

We are on strike. I wish it wasn't happening and support it 100%.

https://www.wgaeast.org/writers-guild-of-america-calls-strike-effective-tuesday-may-2/

Writers Guild of America Calls Strike, Effective Tuesday, May 2 | Press Room

Following the unanimous recommendation of the WGA Negotiating Committee, the Council of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), and the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) acting upon the authority granted to them by their memberships, have voted unanimously to call a strike, effective 12:01a.m. Pacific Time, Tuesday, May 2.

Writers Guild of America, East

Neil Gaiman May 2, 2023

And this link seems more robust:

https://www.wgacontract2023.org/announcements/wga-on-strike

WGA on Strike

We have not reached an agreement with the studios and streamers. We will be on strike after the contract expires at midnight.

Amy (she/her)May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Are there any recommendations from WGA on what those of us not close enough to a picket line to walk can do to show support?

I wish you all a swift and productive strike even though I know the studios are gonna fight you all tooth and nail.

Edit: I found the info on the site. For anyone else who sees this toot, more info found here: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike-hub

Strike Hub

Writers are facing the most comprehensive assault on compensation and working conditions that they have seen in a generation. Find out why writers are calling the WGA an existential fight for the future of the profession and get links to all things strike-related here.

theRICHARDexp May 2, 2023

@neilhimself what is that about AI?? Are these companies seriously considering handing over content creation to a fucking AI???

MaybeMyMonkeys May 2, 2023

@theRICHARDexp @neilhimself GPT4 is good enough that if you fed it 100 years of radio and TV scripts (in any language), it could generate scripts that matched the lower to mid tiers of writers. They can’t all be Neil. I also assume that many scripts never see the light of day, and writers are hired to rewrite scripts all the time.

theRICHARDexp May 2, 2023

@MaybeMyMonkeys @neilhimself but like you said, it would “match” them. Not be independently creative. It would create a show about a dog because it knows about Lassie, not because it has any emotional attachment to dogs. Even creating a basic script and allowing a human to “rewrite” it would pull all artistry out of the storytelling.

Marin Lukanović May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Full support from here!!

Chema Hernández Gil May 2, 2023

And on #MayDay #InternationalWorkersDay no less! Solidarity.

Don't cross the picket lines folks.

In Search of a Better World May 2, 2023

@chema @neilhimself #NoScabbing

Comrade Weez May 2, 2023

@neilhimself We don't cross pickets. How else can we help?

WGA website seems to be squashed under the load, tho

Paul Chambers🚧May 2, 2023

@weezmgk @neilhimself

Once the current TV shows that have been written is exhausted, networks will go with unscripted tv shows.

One thing the average tv viewer can do is not watch the barrage of upcoming new unscripted tv shows networks will start in place of scripted tv.

Watching them is kind of like crossing the picket line.

#UnionStrong #WritersStrike

In Search of a Better World May 2, 2023

@paul @weezmgk @neilhimself I'd find it hard to boycott something I don't watch anyway, to be honest. #FauxRealityBollocks

Comrade Weez May 2, 2023

@CrypticMirror @paul @neilhimself same

StarkRG May 2, 2023

@CrypticMirror @paul @weezmgk @neilhimself I'm sure they'd start to notice a drop off in viewership once they no longer have any scripted shows. Hopefully they realise that before they actually get to that stage.

Paul Chambers🚧May 2, 2023

@StarkRG @CrypticMirror @weezmgk

Appears that contracts are orchestrated to end after first run season episodes are 'put to bed,' (Written and filmed.)

They last about 100-150 days and then the Guild, networks, productions companies, etc move the needle just in time to start filming fall TV, which is delayed while reruns and even streaming only TV shows, air on network TV in the fall.

Some established series on network TV come back in January with a 13-episode new season.

Cheryl G Kasson May 2, 2023

@CrypticMirror @paul @weezmgk @neilhimself Same for me. I watch very few unscripted shows.

LeeFromVT 🌎🌌🐈♂️♏🏳️‍🌈 🇺🇦May 2, 2023

@paul @weezmgk @neilhimself

Unscripted shows are heavily scripted i believe, i haven't watched any as they are far to common. If i wanted over-drama people in my life i would still hang out with people i know, lol.
Everyone deserves fair pay and benefits for their jobs. Since i do not watch TV "at time of broadcast" when they fix the issue with the strike there will be plenty to binge on then.
Fight for pay that accurately represents your physical, intellectual and artistic efforts!

MaybeMyMonkeys May 2, 2023

@LeeFromVT @paul @weezmgk @neilhimself do you mean, unscripted shows are heavily edited?

LeeFromVT 🌎🌌🐈♂️♏🏳️‍🌈 🇺🇦May 2, 2023

@MaybeMyMonkeys @paul @weezmgk @neilhimself

Heavily edited for sure. Though some stuff is re-enacted more dramatically and it shows. Was generally speaking about most "reality shows"

LeeFromVT 🌎🌌🐈♂️♏🏳️‍🌈 🇺🇦May 2, 2023

@MaybeMyMonkeys @paul 😂 @weezmgk @neilhimself

Sorry for edits, misspoke a bit i think, and typos

Paul Chambers🚧May 2, 2023

@LeeFromVT @MaybeMyMonkeys @weezmgk @neilhimself

So called unscripted shows do not fall under the purvey of the Writers Guild, nor their strikes and Union bargaining. They can have edits and even writers.

They are trying to get writers covered by the Guild since 30%-40% of reality and other unscripted TV shows is written by writers.

LeeFromVT 🌎🌌🐈♂️♏🏳️‍🌈 🇺🇦May 2, 2023

@paul @MaybeMyMonkeys @weezmgk @neilhimself

They may saturate the void from a strike with them. I doubt they will get the ratings therefore the ad dollars they are accustom to getting. I won't be consuming them.

I will wait longer for Sandman Season 2 if that is what it takes to get what they deserve.

Noted Tea Enthusiast May 2, 2023

@paul
Right - this is why we have Reality TV.
@weezmgk @neilhimself

Greg Stolze May 2, 2023

@paul @weezmgk @neilhimself This gives me real "when Hell is full, the dead shall walk the earth" vibes.

Neil Gaiman May 2, 2023

@weezmgk try https://www.wgacontract2023.org/announcements/wga-on-strike

WGA on Strike

We have not reached an agreement with the studios and streamers. We will be on strike after the contract expires at midnight.

Just Plain Simple BridgeMakes⚪May 2, 2023

@neilhimself solidarity

sandywb14 May 2, 2023

@neilhimself We support you. Your work is worth it.

NovaScotiaOffGrid May 2, 2023

@neilhimself We shall brace for more concocted "reality" shows, and repeats. Ugh.

Stefan Scholl May 2, 2023

@NovaScotiaOffGrid @neilhimself Reality shows are scripted, too.

@neilhimself Cool! Go get'em!

Jeff Zugale - Z Factory May 2, 2023

@neilhimself 100% support, even though I and most everyone else who freelances in Hollywood has been short on jobs since November 2022

Neil Gaiman May 2, 2023

@jeffzugale that's a lot of what we're striking for.

Jeff Zugale - Z Factory May 2, 2023

@neilhimself indeed. It’s going to be a very hard year.

Nnedi Okorafor May 2, 2023

@neilhimself This is my first strike as a WGA member and I’ve been walking around shouting, “It’s happening!”

Neil Gaiman May 2, 2023

@nnedi it really is!

Oakwalker May 2, 2023

Clearly, it's time to strike again.
the endless cycle, we make tiny gains, eat shit for years, then try to gain them back.
This year begins a new cycle...
We make tiny gains,
Eat shit for days,
Then make tiny gains again, until we end up gaining overall. Because if we don't, we capitulate to Jim Crow slavery, regardless of our skin color.
That is what colonizers look like.
Two faced things

Hamish Mack 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Good luck. My workplace in NZ has a successful campaign for a payrise. I hope yours works out.

Cristin Pescosolido May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Solidarity from VFX. I wish we had a union.

Beñat Bustamante

@neilhimself we support 💪

Gar Lipow May 2, 2023

Other than hashtags is there something ordinary viewers can do to stand with writers? #WGAStrong

Dr. Heather Etchevers May 2, 2023

@GarLipow @neilhimself Read books meanwhile?

Drek Monger May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Aside from moving to unscripted reality show awfulness, I wonder if studios will leverage generative AI tech, and tell the Writers Guild to go pound sand if the results spit out by GPT4 are "good enough" for the schlocky sitcom television.

This might be the last moment in history when a strike from creators of any stripe has any potential leverage whatsoever.

J Lam 👩🏻‍💻👩🏻‍🎨May 2, 2023

@neilhimself as a non writer in a completely different industry pardon my ignorance - but what does this part mean? “their stonewalling on free work for screenwriters and on AI for all writers”

Thank you and all the other amazing writers putting your beautiful art into the world, I sincerely hope the studios recognize your contributions :(

mjfgates May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Yup, sucks that Management are bastards, and the instant they're willing to stop everybody will be happy to go back to work.

In Search of a Better World May 2, 2023

@neilhimself #SolidarityForever
#JoinAUnion
#TheUnionMakesUsStrong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKhwitXvVj8

Solidarity Forever - IWW Song (With Lyrics)

YouTube

MyOpinion May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Get that money!!!

PointlessSpike May 2, 2023

@neilhimself That sucks. Hope that the WGA can get a fair deal for its members.

dbx May 2, 2023

@neilhimself
✊✊✊

Kahte🐿️May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Do you need a Casserole ? (a pan) To make noise, like us in France. The gouvernement call it, "instrument sonore portatif" sound portable instrument. ^^

Michael May 2, 2023

@neilhimself ✊

belikekramer May 2, 2023

Jan Thie May 2, 2023

Good luck!

buwel May 2, 2023

@neilhimself and I do, too 💪🏻
Btw: May 2nd is a great day to start a strike

Ben, Writin’ Movies May 2, 2023

@neilhimself I don’t believe that anyone on strike wishes they were. It’s all part of the employer’s narrative to portray striking staff members as work-shy lay-abouts, exactly the way the UK Government responds to the wave of industrial action we’re currently seeing. #Solidarity

Outi🦊🌱🌍🌈May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Support and good luck from across the pond 💪🍀

Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦May 2, 2023

@neilhimself good luck! #Solidarity

michi May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Truly crushed but writers are important. I hope there is swift resolution.

GATEKEEPER May 2, 2023

@neilhimself
Now you have time to think up some more movie scripts with guns and murder..

Neil Gaiman May 2, 2023

@GatekeepKen why would I do that?

Christy Jackson Nicholas May 2, 2023

@neilhimself Doing what's necessary to gain justice is often painful.