AN OPEN LETTER TO DAVID L. WOPLER

To read the letter to Variety that Mr. Wopler wrote go here.

The following is an open reply to this letter.

Dear David L. Wopler,

It’s hard for me to not take this one personal. My brother was one of the athletes’ who trained for years and wound up not going to the 1980 Summer Olympics because of the US boycott. It hurts for him to talk about it to this day. Even though he was part of what seemed to be the minority, he was with the group of athletes that supported the boycott. At the white house, he was one of the group that did not wear the famous t-shirts, but that still doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

He will always wonder what might have been.

We were not the only country that tried to make a stand against what the Soviets were doing. The following governments (a total of 61 teams) also joined us in the boycott:

Albanian government , Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, West Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Chinese Taipei (Republic of China), Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, South Korea, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Virgin Islands and Zaire.

Soviet tanks invaded Afghanistan. Based on today’s regime who knows if we would have done more than boycott. Either way, lives could have been at stake.

Last I looked nobody plans on threatening people with their lives at any of the upcoming awards ceremonies.

Also, how can the experience of not being able to receive an award be compared to not having the opportunity to compete for one?

These awards are being given out for people who have already performed, been paid and have part of many accolades, parties and media attention for the work they are in contention for.

They have all trained and been able to utilize their skills.

You want to make the bad analogy that what the WGA is doing is akin to President Carter’s decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics…fine. Stupid…but fine. It’s your opinion.

 Here’s mine,

How dare you compare what is happening to the members of the WGA and everyone else affected by this strike to what happened to the athletes from around the world that were not able to go to Moscow to compete. Unlike the nominated actors, producers writers etc.…they never even had the chance to use their talents. Let alone have an award shipped to their home.

I am not belittling that moment of exhilaration one would experience receiving a Golden Globe or an Oscar on live TV. I am also not downplaying how badly members of the WGA, IATSE, TEAMSTERS, LOS ANGELES, tv/film fans and everyone else that are being hardhipped by this strike…I’m just saying that there is absolutely no comparison.

You should be ashamed of yourself. And you and the AMPTP for supporting your letter, should be held morally accountable.

jsg

AMPTP: Merry Christmas you Greedy Gentlemen

 A well done video by Peter Radar

 jsg

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Almost ten years ago the a-cappella singing group Straight No Chaser, performed this comedic version of the 12 Days Of Christmas in Bloomington Indiana at Indiana University’s Musical Arts Center. It was going to be put out in video but the company who recorded went out of business and the tapes were lost. But due to the diligence of one of the original members of the group, they were recently found. Enjoy!

jsg

WANTED: Writer for AMPTP website!

 

I didn’t even have to change this newer photo on their website…okay…had to add the WGA strike button. But it looks to me like the AMPTP could use a writer…I’m sorry, I meant to say AN writer.

jsg

NOSTRADAMUS PREDICTS HEAVY RAINS TO HIT HOLLYWOOD

 

Uh huh…okay…maybe he didn’t, but I do.

There is a flood coming and it’s going to be massive.

As much fun as it is to put up personal commentary on the WGA strike, my blog is also about the art of screenwriting as well.

I would be remiss to mention to all of you (on both sides of the economic writing fence), the following simple phrase…now is the time to write. And NO I don’t mean to say you should scab…I mean write. For yourself and for your future. That’s what we do. That groove thing that makes the words appear on the paper doesn’t happen by magic…magic might be a by-product, but getting them there is an exercise.

There are two major reasons we should continue writing right now.

1. To stay on top of your own game…which is always a continuous learning process.

2. Did I mention there is a flood coming?

On the strike line I’ve been talking with A-list and down the alphabet working writers, and the one thing that keeps coming up is…I don’t really feel like writing right now…I’m so out of my schedule it’s hard for me to write… Or…Somehow it doesn’t feel like I should be writing. Of course there are those that never stop…but this internet piece isn’t for you.

The simplest way to address my first bullet point is – don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s no big deal not to fire up those creative synapses during this forced time off. Don’t believe when it’s finally over you’ll be able to boot up just fine and start where you left off. Again, it’s only my online anonymous opinion…but not really having a crystal ball to be able to predict when it’s over (but lets collectively hope for an early 2008 party) you will need, more than ever, to be on your game.

That leads me to my second bullet point, which is really more about the business side of our art.

This week there is much fear hitting the streets. People are worried about losing their set up deals. It won’t happen to everyone, but it’s going to happen. There will absolutely be some cleaning going on under the force majeur. These people will be the first to understand that this time period will be one for preparing for the flood.

When the AMPTP is done bending us over and the strike ends…a flood that would make Noah’s look like a mud puddle is going to engulf the industry.

Specs and pitches and deals…oh my.

You thought it was hard before. Those first few months are going to be a feeding frenzy. But the sheer volume alone will only illicit one truism…cream floats to the top.

So if there is that spec you’ve been wanting to write…the one you believe to be a great one, write it now. If there ever was a time to put together a pitch list…do it now.

If there is something, completely out of your genre or medium, that you’ve had in mind…take the time to put some thought into it now.

Now is the time to build your writers ark.

When the gates open and you are among the multitude trying to stay above water…keeping your chops fresh and adding new ways to keep yourself buoyant will help you ride it out.

To spin a phrase that Josh Olson commented in what should be known as the great “Mazin Olson Debates” over on the Artful Writer blog.

“Typing’s easy…writing is hard.”

Keep writing.

Now if you’ll excuse me…I need to get back to my spec.

jsg

NICK COUNTER UNDERGOES HEART SURGERY

 

In very upsetting breaking news, Nick Counter, spokesman for the AMPTP, due to believed heart failure, underwent emergency surgery this morning at Cedars-Sinai.

Because of the AMPTP’s long history of equating…those with the most money are the best suited for being in charge and decision making…they have replaced the current world renown heart specialist Lars-Yorg Peters with an average striking writer they grabbed off the picket line, who as the AMPTP has asserted “makes more than a Surgeon”

When the hi-jacked writer was asked if he felt he was qualified to perform the surgery he replied “Sure…why not? I almost sold a spec Horror feature this past summer.’

Unfortunately, after seven hours under the knife, there seems to be a complication. Our protaganist writer and his emergency staff have not been able to locate Nick Counter’s heart.

No donors have yet to be found in the AMPTP.

Due to the obnoxious sobbing and gut wrenching moaning of Tom Short, President of the IATSE, in the emergency waiting room…all visitors have been barred from the hospital.

In lieu of flowers or candy, it has been requested that money be donated to Les Moonves new salary package.

jsg

AMPTP…please sir, might I have another.

 

This past week I was asked a few times as I paced back and forth pumping my picket sign with each passing horn honk…”So…what do you think about the talks this week”? My answer was the always the same…it’s a sham. They are posturing and stalling with absolutely no intention whatsoever to end talks anytime soon. I always added…I really hope that I’m wrong…I really do.

It’s times like these when I hate that I’m right.

Of course I wasn’t the only one. Nikki Finke even pretty much wrote the script and timeline when this was going to happen here.

I was at a function the other night when I was approached by someone who assists a well known director in town. They told me that I should feel more comfortable that someone like Bryan Lourd is helping mediate the talks. You know…someone who is actually skilled in the art of the deal. Uh huh…okay.

My reply was simple…and one the other person didn’t seem to like to hear. “Sure…but it wont matter…the AMPTP just hired a high profile, high cost PR firm. There is absolutely no reason to do that at this juncture if they planned on continuing talks to reach a deal.

And not to beat a dead horse…I still believe there is no reason to even contemplate a settlement if force majeure can kick in soon. If you were running a studio…why on earth would you not take advantage of a golden opportunity to trim fat.

When you are dealing with an 800lb public gorilla…there is only one weapon in your corner…Wall Street.

Pithy signs are great, theme picketing breaks up the boredom and public opinion polls certainly help…but fiduciary responsibilities to stock holders is the beat all trump card.

Now, that it is very clear that breaking the WGA union is the main tactic…pissed off stock holders will be our only ammunition. And that folks means…here it comes…a shitty Christmas and an unhappy new year…because in order to bring wall street into the picture…we have to dig our feet into the trenches and wait through March and possibly into May or June.

The AMPTP is just like the mafia…they understand that everybody knows they do underhanded things to make money…but the last thing they want is Joe public talking about it. Guess what…Joe public owns shares in affected companies…get them talking about it…and why Wall Street is down grading the stocks due to HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS in lost ad revenue…and right there folks is the WGA’s hail of titanium bullets.

But the only way to load that gun is to wait…and wait and wait.

Talk about a suck ass prognosis. But unless by some miracle (they have been known to happen) something motivates them to sit down to an agreement sooner than later…it usually only takes one HUGE MEDIA blunder by one side…let’s hope it’s theirs. The only way we can walk away with something that we can swallow…is to stick it out and stick it to them. Then let the Billion lb Wall Street Dinosaur fuck the 800lb AMPTP gorilla in the ass. And believe me…when it gets to that…the stock holders will want more accountability then “just how are you going to end this and make it up to us”. That’s a path none of these companies want to go down.

And for God’s sake…somebody please check to see if this guy has some hidden accounts somewhere that have recent huge deposits.

 

Somebody has this asshole in their pocket.

 jsg

New reality show: THE PICKET LINE

Too bad I can’t pitch it now…but I’m sure there will be some union in the future that might be picking up signs and hoofing it. Hopefully one that won’t have a triple letter acronym.

5th week. Has the mood changed? Yes. As with anything, the shine wears off after a while…especially one that’s hard to swallow. BUT…and that’s a big early morning donut eating butt…the determination to see this through until something fair comes out of this has NOT changed. Everybody still discusses how they are out here, like it or not, for as long as it takes to get a fair deal.

Who the hell wants to picket…nobody! Sure…there might be a few writers who haven’t gotten out of the house in years, let alone socialize with anyone, who are probably digging this (and you and we know who you are)…which is cool. The light of day is always cool. But picketing sucks…there I said it…it sucks. And if anyone actually thinks differently…I say to you…uh huh…okay.

And now a list of things that keeps you going during the mighty daily walk:

1. Honking (except for those that honk over and over for a really long time…there’s support and then there’s holy shit we get it…thank you)

2. SAG members and others who come out to walk the line with you.

3. Anyone…and I mean anyone who brings by food. We love you!

4. Not looking at your watch.

5. Finally looking at your watch and being thrilled at the little time left.

6. Having great conversations.

7. Having conversations.

8. Listening to other conversations.

9. Pretending that if you step on a crack and AMPTP member spontaneously combusts (Okay…that one may just be me)

10. Seeing some of the same faces that made you smile the day before.

11. Realizing that there are some people who really do look good in red.

12. Finally giving in to the fact that you are not one of them.

13. Listening to music (ours like a few others has music blaring)

14. Laughing at people who look at us with disdain.

15. Laughing at fellow writers who have no business singing along to blaring songs.

16. Winning the daily pool of when the first person peels off a layer of clothes due to the heat setting in. (this of course is only on the early shifts…fine…it doesn’t really happen at all, but doesn’t someone besides me see this a nice sideline way to make some dead presidents during all this)

17. Fantasizing about the smoking hot jogger that just ran by the line.

18. Fantasizing about killing the guy smoking in front of you in the line.

19. Noticing how some of the clouds look just like bunnies.

20. Drinking water

21. Seeing how many times you can walk back and forth before you have to pee.

22. Seeing if you can figure out which people are in TV and who does features.

23. Reading the catchy things other writers put on their signs

24. Not getting sign envy.

25. The fact that one day this will be freaken over.

Amen to 25 brother.

If any other day walker has something to add to this list…feel free to comment.

jsg

WGA Anthem

A rap song as the WGA Anthem?

Uh huh…okay.

I saw this guy all over the place at the big rally on Hollywood Blvd. I remember thinking…this dude is a nutjob. His look and antics aren’t doing anything to help our cause.

Man…I was really, really, really dead wrong. This guy pulled something cool out of his hat. And a pretty good talent I might add. I can’t wait to talk about this video out on the line.

Way to go Writer Boi!

jsg

WGA: Fighting the Good Fight

Okay…

 

I’m back on the air. Without going into great deal, there was a death in my immediate family that hit me pretty hard. Probably always will. But until this week ( it’s been close to eight months) I haven’t had the drive to write. The strike has made that even easier for me. But walking the line every morning, forcing me to have contact with the world and my scribe brothers and sisters, has slowly given me back my voice.

 

Funny how this strike will probably be a healing process for me, but more importantly, it will be a healing process for us all. What we are striking for is just. What we do today takes care of our fellow writers tomorrow. This is important. It’s going to be a tough fight. But one we must come out of fairly unscathed and with hope.

 

Today was day 4 of the new talks. The AMPTP just gave us (finally) something new to chew on.

 

Uh huh…okay. It comes of no surprise to me, it’s something we need to spit out.

 

Most of us saw this coming. For those of you that didn’t…welcome to the party.

 

There was a part of me that was hoping something of note would happen soon. With this new groundbreaking roll back (cue – rolling eyes)…not going to happen.

 

The AMPTP has officially started a staring contest to see who’s going to blink first. They believe we will. To insure a win, if you look closely at their hollow eyes you can see the sewn thread keeping their eyelids open.

 

Don’t blink fellow WGA members. Don’t blink.

 

Stare them down no matter how long it takes.

 

Don’t be fooled in thinking in the end we aren’t going to get screwed. But it’s important to minimize the rape. We are all going to be taking one for the collective team…but, when we get out of this picketing prison they put us in…we will be able to live with it.

 

Years from now we will all be able to look back on this strike and feel proud. My wife always says nothing great comes easy. She’s right.

 

Again…what we are doing is just. That is why we fight. Regardless of how bloody it gets. Historically we have proven over and over we are not a people who can sit down and do nothing when we are being treated unfairly. We let our voices be heard. If that has no effect…we make them understand…we fight.

 

I have always sworn to myself that I would do whatever it takes to protect my family. That is why I walk the line every day. Not just for the family I share my life with at home, but my scribe brothers and sisters and their families. I swear I’m not trying to wave a flag or be melodramatic. I’m just speaking from my heart.

 

It would be nice if life was simple. You do your job, you get treated fairly.

 

Life isn’t simple.

 

Writing isn’t easy.

 

The underlyng current of existing in this town is knowing that you have to deal with a certain percentage of getting bent over. Them’s the rules of the game.

 

I got a back ache…I’m tired of staring at the ground. Fuck the rules.

 

I met a woman today leaving the studio where I picket…she just got fired. She was sad, pissed and scared. You know what she told me.

 

“You stay out here.”

 

She then told me that she would pray for us.

 

She just got fired. But we are a people that no matter what…will always believe in fighting against injustice.

 

We are the front line of public opinion. They support, they understand…they honk.

 

For what it’s worth, here’s my prediction.

 

The 800lb gorilla is going to sweeten the deal, but still not make it palatable for us to swallow right before the force majeur. They will get rid of the dead weight, blame it on us “for not taking a great offer on the table”.

 

Then…they will come back to the talks spewing banana breath, and looking fatter than usual and slowly give us the deal they decided long ago (to the exact bullet point) that they knew we would finally gulp down. It won’t be perfect…they will even pretend to give on certain points. You know, the ones they knew (to the exact bullet point) that they would cave in…to the exact number they’ve had in their minds all along.

 

This should happen right before Christmas. Just like a typical third act note they would give anyway.

 

Then we all go back to dancing with the Devil. Except he don’t dance so well…hard to move with a little rip in your anus. But he’s smiling. He got what he wanted.

 

And hopefully…so will the WGA.

 

So Say We All.

 

jsg