2/4-2/8
Monday - People were talking about this weekend's hot rumors of a deal being in place, but with some skepticism. Everyone's cautious after the last nasty bait-and-switch from the AMPTP before the holidays, and by the way, THERE IS NO OFFICIAL NEWS YET. Everyone's getting emailed by friends and family, understandably excited that the strike may be over, everyone having seen the same non-news stories that appeared in the New York and LA Times and got picked up by CNN and the wire services. Talk about irresponsible reporting. There's. NO. NEWS. YET. No sources who can be named, no official comment from either party. It's a story that integrity-challenged reporter Templeton from this season of THE WIRE would write. In other news, I was cold. I dressed completely wrong, without a layer to compensate for the wind whistling down Olive. Reasonable showing today, everyone staying strong and wanting to give a good showing as we were exhorted to by phone calls from Larry Gelbart, whose voicemail I've kept on my machine, I confess. It's Larry freaking Gelbart!
StrikeSnacks: Doughnuts from two different bakeries
Pedometer: 2.6mi
Tuesday - Happy Mardi Gras and Super Duper Tuesday! Went to Fox today after voting. Gorgeous sunny SoCal day, with something of a festive vibe in the air. I'd brought an armful of red Mardi Gras beads, and the gate captains had brought beads as well, so we were all decked out. As far as I can tell no one flashed anything, no Writers Gone Wild here. No hurricanes of the atmospheric or bibulous variety either, but there were theme treats (see below). Fair amount of election talk, naturally, and we were visited by a couple of local politicians, state senators I think. WGA VP David Weiss and another Board member dropped by to give an update -- in short, progress toward a deal is being made but there is no language yet and negotiations are still going on -- and answer questions. The next few days and the weekend's informational meeting with the membership should be very interesting, with all kinds of scenarios possible.
StrikeSnacks: Some homemade cookies which I didn't try; some pro cookies shaped like flipflops which I did. And Mardi Gras KING CAKES from a MOONLIGHT fan in New Orleans, and fantastic pizzas underwritten by more MOONLIGHT fans. What show has the best fans? I think you know.
Pedometer: 5.4mi, but I'm pretty sure I cancelled that out with the pizza and king cake.
Wednesday - Fun day. The three hours zoomed right by. It was "Spooky Wednesday" at WB, featuring writers from MOONLIGHT, SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, SUPERNATURAL, and others. Really big and enthusiastic turnout (gratz again, Priya!). Chatted with two writing teams both starting horror pilots and caught up with mah peeps from mah show. Everyone's at Disney tomorrow, and while we still don't know when the strike will end, there's a chance we may not see our buddies on the line on Monday, so there was exchanging of emails, etc. Here's hoping we see each other on the lot. Soon. After we're back at work.
StrikeSnacks: Croissants, danish, doughnuts
Pedometer: 1.3mi
Thursday - Everyone was at Disney today, which has enough gates that the crowd was able to spread out. I was one of the first there, a little before 8am, and left a bit after 11 at which time the lot was swarming with Guild and SAG members. A beautiful day, with kind of a festive, "last day of school" vibe, although cautious optimism was definitely the predominant voiced opinion. Emails were exchanged, calls made to cell phones to save the numbers, vague plans made for lunches in the commissary when we're all back at work. Which hopefully will be soon, behind a fair deal. Saturday will be very interesting.
StrikeSnacks: The strike classic, doughnuts. Also, a coffee truck supplied by an anonymous donor. Thanks for the latte, Anonymous!
Pedometer: 2.7mi
Friday, February 08, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Vote!
Pretty exciting times, not leastly for California, which stands to make a difference this primary. Participatory democracy only works if you, y'know, participate, so vote! Like a baby stoat!
Sunday, February 03, 2008
A Note About Strike Notes
I'm behind again on posting these, but hope to catch up during the Giants vs. the Cheaters game. I'm changing the post dates to reflect the week they're about, not the day I'm posting them (today), just FYI, so you'll need to scroll down here or in your newsreader.
I'll try to be better about posting these in a more timely fashion. With luck, this won't be an issue for much longer. We'll see what the week brings! Until then, see you on the line.
I'll try to be better about posting these in a more timely fashion. With luck, this won't be an issue for much longer. We'll see what the week brings! Until then, see you on the line.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Strike Notes: Week 13
1/28-2/1
Monday - @ Fox today for WGA/SAG solidarity day. Took the first morning shift, guessing (correctly) that it'd be a mob scene and hard to park later. When I left, incoming picketers were already following people in the parking lot, trolling for a space. The turnout's solid, but there's not as many people here as I'd expect. But hey, it's early. Maybe all the actors are hungover from the SAG awards last night.
StrikeSnacks: Some homemade cookies. Not much of a showing given that the WGA and SAG were all being directed to Fox today, but maybe the treats came later. Got excited seeing a guy with two bags of Sprinkles cupcakes, but turns out he just left them at the guard shack presumably for delivery to someone inside. Sigh. I heart Sprinkles.
Pedometer: 5.3mi
Tuesday - Back at WB. Chilly today, although of course we have nothing to complain about compared to our compatriots in New York. Did more standing around and chatting while holding a picket sign than actual walking.
StrikeSnacks: Doughnuts. Also someone brought by $5 Taco Bell gift certificates from an anonymous donor.
Pedometer: 1.3mi
Wednesday - Cold again today, although it got warmer and very nice despite the windiness. One big gust blew a blast of that nasty water from the Fox fountain at us. Or maybe Peter Chernin has a button that does that.
StrikeSnacks: Homemade cookies
Pedometer: 5.7mi. Yeah, baby!
Thursday - Another Teaching Thursday, this time multi-camera comedy day, although some single camera-ers came too. It was warm and sunny for the participants, who included writers from SAMANTHA WHO? and BIG BANG THEORY, Jay Kogen (FRASIER, THE SIMPSONS), and EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND creator Phil Rosenthal. Chatted with a couple of newcomers to LA who were lamenting their timing. This too shall pass, folks.
StrikeSnacks: When it rains (not literally today, happily), it pours! Doughnuts courtesy of Priya, the Teaching Thursday organizer, plus pizza from Fans4Writers -- delivered by Nia Vardalos -- and another visit from the Tropical Smoothie Cafe lady.
Pedometer: 2.0mi
So begins month four of the strike...
Monday - @ Fox today for WGA/SAG solidarity day. Took the first morning shift, guessing (correctly) that it'd be a mob scene and hard to park later. When I left, incoming picketers were already following people in the parking lot, trolling for a space. The turnout's solid, but there's not as many people here as I'd expect. But hey, it's early. Maybe all the actors are hungover from the SAG awards last night.
StrikeSnacks: Some homemade cookies. Not much of a showing given that the WGA and SAG were all being directed to Fox today, but maybe the treats came later. Got excited seeing a guy with two bags of Sprinkles cupcakes, but turns out he just left them at the guard shack presumably for delivery to someone inside. Sigh. I heart Sprinkles.
Pedometer: 5.3mi
Tuesday - Back at WB. Chilly today, although of course we have nothing to complain about compared to our compatriots in New York. Did more standing around and chatting while holding a picket sign than actual walking.
StrikeSnacks: Doughnuts. Also someone brought by $5 Taco Bell gift certificates from an anonymous donor.
Pedometer: 1.3mi
Wednesday - Cold again today, although it got warmer and very nice despite the windiness. One big gust blew a blast of that nasty water from the Fox fountain at us. Or maybe Peter Chernin has a button that does that.
StrikeSnacks: Homemade cookies
Pedometer: 5.7mi. Yeah, baby!
Thursday - Another Teaching Thursday, this time multi-camera comedy day, although some single camera-ers came too. It was warm and sunny for the participants, who included writers from SAMANTHA WHO? and BIG BANG THEORY, Jay Kogen (FRASIER, THE SIMPSONS), and EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND creator Phil Rosenthal. Chatted with a couple of newcomers to LA who were lamenting their timing. This too shall pass, folks.
StrikeSnacks: When it rains (not literally today, happily), it pours! Doughnuts courtesy of Priya, the Teaching Thursday organizer, plus pizza from Fans4Writers -- delivered by Nia Vardalos -- and another visit from the Tropical Smoothie Cafe lady.
Pedometer: 2.0mi
So begins month four of the strike...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Spooky Wednesday Next Week at Warner Bros.
The Thursday 9am-12pm picketing shift @ WB has been transmogrified into Teaching Thursdays, where writers from various genres of TV make themselves available for question-answering and general chatting. The events so far have been really fun and successful -- congrats to the organizers, Priya and Jennifer!
Today was sitcoms, last week was medical dramas.
Next week? -- note that it's WEDNESDAY not Thursday due to another WGA event -- spooooky shows, including mine. Come by and say hey! Or boo. Or don't come at all if the strike is over by then. Heh.
Today was sitcoms, last week was medical dramas.
Next week? -- note that it's WEDNESDAY not Thursday due to another WGA event -- spooooky shows, including mine. Come by and say hey! Or boo. Or don't come at all if the strike is over by then. Heh.
Teaching Thursdays at Warner Bros.
Writers of various genres join us each Thursday, making themselves available to discuss story, structure and everything in between to aspiring writers. All you have to do is come out and pick up a sign!
Warning: This Teaching Thursday might scare you to death! It's SPOOKY THURSDAY! Not sure you're witty enough to write Sam and Dean Winchester's dialogue? The writers from "Supernatural" can help! Want to know how to raise the stakes for a Vampire detective? Writers from "Moonlight" know! Worried that your spouse may be a cyborg? The writers from "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" probably won't be able to help (but they will be on hand for your other brilliant questions!). Yes, writers from these shows (plus a few surprise guests!) will be there to answers these questions and more...
The usual disclaimers:
If you're a writer for a genre drama (or have been one) and want to show up, please know:
No one will solicit you to read their brilliant spec script. No one will ask for your phone number or email address. No one will expect anything of you other than your ability to answer some story/structure/dialogue questions.
If you're an aspiring writer who wants to take advantage of getting some truly great advice from the folks who have lived, eaten, breathed it:
Definitely join us -- all you need to do is pick up a sign! What you should not do: solicit the writers to read your brilliant spec script. Do not ask for phone numbers or email addresses. Do expect brilliance, because that's what you'll get!
SPOOKY WEDNES(THURS)DAY: Wednesday February 6th, 9 AM-12 PM, Warner Bros Gate 2. Note, WEDNESDAY!
See you there!
As always, hoping that the writers get a fair deal...
Suggestions, questions and concerns can be directed to Priya at wbteachingthursdays@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Strike Notes: Week 12
1/22-1/25
Tuesday - Everyone was at Paramount today for a MLK Jr. theme event. A miscalculation about traffic got me there late for my shift, but there was a massive turnout including news crews. I definitely wasn't missed. The idea for today's picket was that we march around the entire studio, in homage to the civil rights marches. An interesting idea in theory, but Paramount backs up against a bunch of other businesses so we end up walking past (and therefore appear to picket) a strip mall, a school, a string of car repair shops, and Hollywood Forever cemetery. A new plan emerges for doubling back once we reach non-Paramounty environs.
StrikeSnacks: None beyond the usual WGA-supplied nom noms that I could see.
Pedometer: Left it in the car again! Guessing about 2mi.
Wednesday - Felt under the weather today, so I stayed home.
Thursday - Bleah, feeling better but the cold, rainy weather doesn't help. I'm dressed for it in waterproof jacket and pants, which keep me dry even though I look like Stupid McSqueakypants. Today was the very successful kickoff of a new event at WB organized by gate 2 regulars Priya and Jennifer, called Teaching Thursdays. On the 9am-12pm shift, writers from different genres of shows make themselves available for questions and chatting. Today was medical drama day, featuring writers from GREY'S ANATOMY and ER. Carol Flint came. Very cool.
StrikeSnacks: Pizza, doughnuts from two different bakeries, bucket o' Red Vines. Yowza!
Pedometer: 2.2mi
Tuesday - Everyone was at Paramount today for a MLK Jr. theme event. A miscalculation about traffic got me there late for my shift, but there was a massive turnout including news crews. I definitely wasn't missed. The idea for today's picket was that we march around the entire studio, in homage to the civil rights marches. An interesting idea in theory, but Paramount backs up against a bunch of other businesses so we end up walking past (and therefore appear to picket) a strip mall, a school, a string of car repair shops, and Hollywood Forever cemetery. A new plan emerges for doubling back once we reach non-Paramounty environs.
StrikeSnacks: None beyond the usual WGA-supplied nom noms that I could see.
Pedometer: Left it in the car again! Guessing about 2mi.
Wednesday - Felt under the weather today, so I stayed home.
Thursday - Bleah, feeling better but the cold, rainy weather doesn't help. I'm dressed for it in waterproof jacket and pants, which keep me dry even though I look like Stupid McSqueakypants. Today was the very successful kickoff of a new event at WB organized by gate 2 regulars Priya and Jennifer, called Teaching Thursdays. On the 9am-12pm shift, writers from different genres of shows make themselves available for questions and chatting. Today was medical drama day, featuring writers from GREY'S ANATOMY and ER. Carol Flint came. Very cool.
StrikeSnacks: Pizza, doughnuts from two different bakeries, bucket o' Red Vines. Yowza!
Pedometer: 2.2mi
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Portal
I've been catching up on my gaming during the strike, although it's a little tough to do that when you're trying to keep the ol' personal burn rate down.
I did spring for Portal on Steam (not The Orange Box), and add me to the long list of people who think it's fantastic.
It's got an intuitive, elegant game mechanic presented in one of the best learning curves I've seen in a game. Not to mention choice environmental puzzles, pitch-black funny writing, and hardly any friction getting in the way of a satisfying play experience. You can save anywhere, the lethal areas and objects are impossible to miss, and apart from those you're largely indestructible. No fussy hit points to manage or first-aid powerups to hunt down. Just sweet, sweet gaming goodness.
Oh, and as the cherry on the cake, the best. End. Credits. EVAR.
Portal. Buy it. Play it. Then watch this.
I did spring for Portal on Steam (not The Orange Box), and add me to the long list of people who think it's fantastic.
It's got an intuitive, elegant game mechanic presented in one of the best learning curves I've seen in a game. Not to mention choice environmental puzzles, pitch-black funny writing, and hardly any friction getting in the way of a satisfying play experience. You can save anywhere, the lethal areas and objects are impossible to miss, and apart from those you're largely indestructible. No fussy hit points to manage or first-aid powerups to hunt down. Just sweet, sweet gaming goodness.
Oh, and as the cherry on the cake, the best. End. Credits. EVAR.
Portal. Buy it. Play it. Then watch this.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Strike Notes: Week 11
1/14-1/18
Monday - Everyone was directed to Warner Bros. today in solidarity with the employees who'd just been notified of upcoming layoffs. Huge turnout, including Jon Cryer. The WB regulars got a smile out of n00bs to the line who did things like forget to push the button at the crosswalk. Custom picket signs had been created for the day, including ones noting the astronomical salaries of top WB honchos. There were also two big signs: "1000+ FIRED BECAUSE WARNER WON'T DEAL" and "Which group are you in? STRIKING WRITERS = NOT GETTING PAID - STUDIO EMPLOYEES = NOT GETTING PAID - STUDIO CEOS = GETTING PAID."
StrikeSnacks: A SAG member brought around boxes of doughnuts, and there was random stuff like a box of cookies and a lone carton of Ferrero-Rocher candies. Best of all, a coffee truck (read, free lattes etc.) courtesy of Kathy McCormick (CROSSING JORDAN, THE PRACTICE). Thank you, Kathy!
Pedometer: 2.5mi
Tuesday - Quieter today with the WB numbers back to normal. A pleasant sunny day, perfect for picketing 'n' chatting, including congratulating the SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES writers on their debut. Great numbers for a great show, which everyone was glad to see.
StrikeSnacks: Nada. Back to normal WB life. Bye bye coffee truck!
Pedometer: 2.4mi
Wednesday - A spindly Brit bicycled past with a snarled, "Get back to work, you wankers!" Brave words from a guy in yellow spandex. Got introduced to a new game today, one that's actually the same as a Web-based one I produced back at Yahoo. The first person names an actor, then the next person names a movie that actor was in. The next person names another actor who was in that movie, the next person names another actor, and so on until someone gets stuck, and goes out. You can challenge the person before you, so you need to know at least two movies and two actors for everything you say. Fun and challenging. Drew a blank trying to drag Josh Hartnett's name out of my brain. But who hasn't?
StrikeSnacks: Doughnuts from picketer Pam
Pedometer: 2.1mi
Thursday - @ Fox today. I got there at about 7:45am for an 8am shift, and there was no one there. Did I miss the memo? No picketing today? Some rally somewhere? No, just me forgetting that the crack o' dawn shift at Fox had been eliminated, with 8am now being the first of the day. By the time I got the car turned around for a second pass to check, the van was there unloading. Whew! Uneventful picket, listened to music most of the time.
StrikeSnacks: Finally brought something myself, clementines. Also there were little packets of nuts and dried fruit.
Pedometer: 5.2mi. Might start going to Fox a little more often for the workout...
Monday - Everyone was directed to Warner Bros. today in solidarity with the employees who'd just been notified of upcoming layoffs. Huge turnout, including Jon Cryer. The WB regulars got a smile out of n00bs to the line who did things like forget to push the button at the crosswalk. Custom picket signs had been created for the day, including ones noting the astronomical salaries of top WB honchos. There were also two big signs: "1000+ FIRED BECAUSE WARNER WON'T DEAL" and "Which group are you in? STRIKING WRITERS = NOT GETTING PAID - STUDIO EMPLOYEES = NOT GETTING PAID - STUDIO CEOS = GETTING PAID."
StrikeSnacks: A SAG member brought around boxes of doughnuts, and there was random stuff like a box of cookies and a lone carton of Ferrero-Rocher candies. Best of all, a coffee truck (read, free lattes etc.) courtesy of Kathy McCormick (CROSSING JORDAN, THE PRACTICE). Thank you, Kathy!
Pedometer: 2.5mi
Tuesday - Quieter today with the WB numbers back to normal. A pleasant sunny day, perfect for picketing 'n' chatting, including congratulating the SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES writers on their debut. Great numbers for a great show, which everyone was glad to see.
StrikeSnacks: Nada. Back to normal WB life. Bye bye coffee truck!
Pedometer: 2.4mi
Wednesday - A spindly Brit bicycled past with a snarled, "Get back to work, you wankers!" Brave words from a guy in yellow spandex. Got introduced to a new game today, one that's actually the same as a Web-based one I produced back at Yahoo. The first person names an actor, then the next person names a movie that actor was in. The next person names another actor who was in that movie, the next person names another actor, and so on until someone gets stuck, and goes out. You can challenge the person before you, so you need to know at least two movies and two actors for everything you say. Fun and challenging. Drew a blank trying to drag Josh Hartnett's name out of my brain. But who hasn't?
StrikeSnacks: Doughnuts from picketer Pam
Pedometer: 2.1mi
Thursday - @ Fox today. I got there at about 7:45am for an 8am shift, and there was no one there. Did I miss the memo? No picketing today? Some rally somewhere? No, just me forgetting that the crack o' dawn shift at Fox had been eliminated, with 8am now being the first of the day. By the time I got the car turned around for a second pass to check, the van was there unloading. Whew! Uneventful picket, listened to music most of the time.
StrikeSnacks: Finally brought something myself, clementines. Also there were little packets of nuts and dried fruit.
Pedometer: 5.2mi. Might start going to Fox a little more often for the workout...
Friday, January 11, 2008
Strike Notes: Week 10
1/7-1/11
Monday - Good turnout as the WB crew returns after the holidays. No rain, although it threatened. I'm wearing my new red jacket and red scarf. They make me feel cozy and provide some psychic-solidarity protection when one asshat drives past flipping us off with both hands. A golden lab puppy arrives with its new owners for a few turns about the line. So, so cute.
StrikeSnacks: A banner day. Pizza from Fans4Writers! And the Tropical Smoothie Cafe lady was back again! It's like Week 2 all over again!
Pedometer: 2.8mi
Tuesday - Not much to report. Still meeting new people, even folks I've seen around since Week 1. It's never too late to introduce yourself or strike up (har) a new conversation.
StrikeSnacks: Box of Whole Foods muffins brought by, I think, two folks from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Or, as The Boyfriend and I call it, the Bleaf. The box was divided into little compartments, with a muffin in each one. It's like they were in muffin prison.
Pedometer: 2.7mi
Wednesday - Quiet today. Fair bit more anti-us yelling, probably in light of WB's handing out notices of pending layoffs. A fair bit of discussion on For Your Consideration screeners: who'd seen what, who hadn't received what, what people thought of what, which movies we wanted but weren't sent. This is my first year as a full WGA member, and the screener thing is excellent. Like Christmas all over again.
StrikeSnacks: A box of Drake's Devil Dogs, of unknown origin.
Pedometer: Left it in the car. Felt like a normal/light day, guessing 2.5mi.
Thursday - @ Fox today. Really strong showing! It turns out that's normal here, about 50-100 picketers the whole time I was there. Cold today, I'm wearing like 5 layers. More positive response from drivers passing by than at WB this week. Had fun with post-holiday catching up with peeps from my show and other friends. Did some walking with the iPod. Pretty high-powered picket line they have there @ Fox. Spotted Paul Haggis, for one. I wish I knew what more writers looked like.
StrikeSnacks: Bagels, clementines, and a big cake from MOONLIGHT fans, congratulating us on the PCA win. Thanks, Moonlighters! They ordered pizza too, but I clocked out before it arrived.
Pedometer: 5.7mi. You do get a workout at Fox!
Monday - Good turnout as the WB crew returns after the holidays. No rain, although it threatened. I'm wearing my new red jacket and red scarf. They make me feel cozy and provide some psychic-solidarity protection when one asshat drives past flipping us off with both hands. A golden lab puppy arrives with its new owners for a few turns about the line. So, so cute.
StrikeSnacks: A banner day. Pizza from Fans4Writers! And the Tropical Smoothie Cafe lady was back again! It's like Week 2 all over again!
Pedometer: 2.8mi
Tuesday - Not much to report. Still meeting new people, even folks I've seen around since Week 1. It's never too late to introduce yourself or strike up (har) a new conversation.
StrikeSnacks: Box of Whole Foods muffins brought by, I think, two folks from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Or, as The Boyfriend and I call it, the Bleaf. The box was divided into little compartments, with a muffin in each one. It's like they were in muffin prison.
Pedometer: 2.7mi
Wednesday - Quiet today. Fair bit more anti-us yelling, probably in light of WB's handing out notices of pending layoffs. A fair bit of discussion on For Your Consideration screeners: who'd seen what, who hadn't received what, what people thought of what, which movies we wanted but weren't sent. This is my first year as a full WGA member, and the screener thing is excellent. Like Christmas all over again.
StrikeSnacks: A box of Drake's Devil Dogs, of unknown origin.
Pedometer: Left it in the car. Felt like a normal/light day, guessing 2.5mi.
Thursday - @ Fox today. Really strong showing! It turns out that's normal here, about 50-100 picketers the whole time I was there. Cold today, I'm wearing like 5 layers. More positive response from drivers passing by than at WB this week. Had fun with post-holiday catching up with peeps from my show and other friends. Did some walking with the iPod. Pretty high-powered picket line they have there @ Fox. Spotted Paul Haggis, for one. I wish I knew what more writers looked like.
StrikeSnacks: Bagels, clementines, and a big cake from MOONLIGHT fans, congratulating us on the PCA win. Thanks, Moonlighters! They ordered pizza too, but I clocked out before it arrived.
Pedometer: 5.7mi. You do get a workout at Fox!
WGA Strike FAQ
From the HuffPo, as concise, on point, and funny a treatment of the issues at hand as you're likely to see.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
The People Chose!
MOONLIGHT won the People's Choice Award for Best New Drama last night!
Thanks to everyone who voted, especially the army of Moonlighters out there. This award is all due to you fans; we truly appreciate the support.
Thanks to everyone who voted, especially the army of Moonlighters out there. This award is all due to you fans; we truly appreciate the support.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Une Opening Weekend en Enfer
Teh awesomez.
Makes me wonder what Shepard Fairey, Banksy, et al think about their style being appropriate by marketing flacks.
Makes me wonder what Shepard Fairey, Banksy, et al think about their style being appropriate by marketing flacks.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Strike Notes: Week 9
12/31-1/4
Not much to report here personally for this week. There was picketing at NBC as Jay Leno went back on the air, and some non-picketing informational actions, but me? I spent the remainder of the holidays recovering from a nasty cold. Happy New Year! Let's make a deal folks, and all get back to work.
Not much to report here personally for this week. There was picketing at NBC as Jay Leno went back on the air, and some non-picketing informational actions, but me? I spent the remainder of the holidays recovering from a nasty cold. Happy New Year! Let's make a deal folks, and all get back to work.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Strike Notes: Week 8
12/24-12/28
Hope everyone is having as merry and peaceful a holiday as can be. For me, Christmas is about the people you spend it with and who you're thinking about even if they're far away, not about what's under the tree.
That being said, Santa brought me a soft red scarf, a water-resistant red jacket, and fleece-lined red Crocs to keep me cozy on the line as we head into the New Year.
Santa may look like management, but he's labor through and through.
Hope everyone is having as merry and peaceful a holiday as can be. For me, Christmas is about the people you spend it with and who you're thinking about even if they're far away, not about what's under the tree.
That being said, Santa brought me a soft red scarf, a water-resistant red jacket, and fleece-lined red Crocs to keep me cozy on the line as we head into the New Year.
Santa may look like management, but he's labor through and through.
Strike Notes: Week 7
12/17-12/21
Monday - Light turnout at WB as we wind down for the holidays. Today included a "Studio-a-Thon," where a moving throng of picketers visited all the Burbank studios: NBC, Disney, WB, Universal. I thought about going but figured regular turnout at the gate would be a little sparse and needing warm bodies, which it was and did. Sounds like the hike was fun, though.
StrikeSnacks: The Tropical Smoothie Cafe lady was back! Also, more raisins from Preferred Artists. Or perhaps they were the same ones from before.
Pedometer: 3.2mi
This evening was WGA meeting for the whole membership, the last before the holidays. Again, a good thing for the leadership to do, providing a forum for updates and Q&A. They answered every single question anyone had, and a goodly number of members stayed to the bitter end. Apart from the obvious, the AMPTP having walked away from the table, it wasn't so bitter-- a lot of positive initiatives are underway.
StrikeSnacks: Coffee, cider, tea, cookies and other treats
Tuesday - Today I went on my first location picket, outside the shoot of a Vince Vaugh/Reese Witherspoon romantic comedy in a Venice store. Lots of chanting, including custom ones ("Hey Vince! This is your fight too!" and "If you loop it, it looks stupid!"). We get two lines going, one in front of the store and one behind, and rally a lot of honks of support. We stay there a good three hours, even when it starts to rain. We thank the crew and other unions, and yell a parting "See you tomorrow!"
StrikeSnacks: None, but apparently Stroh's was offering free eats to picketers. Go Stroh's!
Pedometer: Unknown. I left it in the car. Would guess about 2.5mi
...and that's it for the holidays.
Monday - Light turnout at WB as we wind down for the holidays. Today included a "Studio-a-Thon," where a moving throng of picketers visited all the Burbank studios: NBC, Disney, WB, Universal. I thought about going but figured regular turnout at the gate would be a little sparse and needing warm bodies, which it was and did. Sounds like the hike was fun, though.
StrikeSnacks: The Tropical Smoothie Cafe lady was back! Also, more raisins from Preferred Artists. Or perhaps they were the same ones from before.
Pedometer: 3.2mi
This evening was WGA meeting for the whole membership, the last before the holidays. Again, a good thing for the leadership to do, providing a forum for updates and Q&A. They answered every single question anyone had, and a goodly number of members stayed to the bitter end. Apart from the obvious, the AMPTP having walked away from the table, it wasn't so bitter-- a lot of positive initiatives are underway.
StrikeSnacks: Coffee, cider, tea, cookies and other treats
Tuesday - Today I went on my first location picket, outside the shoot of a Vince Vaugh/Reese Witherspoon romantic comedy in a Venice store. Lots of chanting, including custom ones ("Hey Vince! This is your fight too!" and "If you loop it, it looks stupid!"). We get two lines going, one in front of the store and one behind, and rally a lot of honks of support. We stay there a good three hours, even when it starts to rain. We thank the crew and other unions, and yell a parting "See you tomorrow!"
StrikeSnacks: None, but apparently Stroh's was offering free eats to picketers. Go Stroh's!
Pedometer: Unknown. I left it in the car. Would guess about 2.5mi
...and that's it for the holidays.
Strike Notes: Week 6
12/10-12/14
Monday -Tried the 2pm-5pm shift for a change. Brr, cold! Miscalculated on layers. Saw a bunch of new faces on this shift, as well as familiar ones from my class of the Warner Bros. TV Writers Workshop. We end the day heading back to gates 2/3 for a good showing behind the Channel 4 newsguy.
StrikeSnacks: Smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. A little too cold today to fully appreciate them, but they were tasty! Doughnuts, box of trail mix bars
Pedometer: 3.4mi
Tuesday - Back to my usual WB shift of 8-11am. I believe today was Bring an Actor to Picket Day, although the SAG support has been so terrific that pretty much every day counts in that regard. However, the sightings today were choice, including Garret Dillahunt (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, DEADWOOD, JOHN FROM CINCINNATI) and swoonworthy Peter Krause (DIRTY SEXY MONEY, SIX FEET UNDER). Keen-eyed Kay also spotted Victor Garber stopped at the light, and we got him to smile and honk. It was teh awesomez. Jack Bristow gave us honks of support from his Prius! Guest picketers also included the Pink Hat Brigade, women sci fi writers who've been visiting different picket lines each week.
StrikeSnacks: Nothing beyond the usual WGA-supplied noshes.
Pedometer: 2.7mi
Wednesday - @ Fox today, ready for the 8am-cold-to-11am-sun with multiple layers. Started off at the Truck gate and met some great people courtesy of my friend Karine including showrunners Barbara Hall and Anne Kenney. There was a fender bender between one honking-in-support car and another-- did we cause that? Oops. Moved with a small contingent to the Galaxy gate, which was unstaffed. Finished my tour with the big line at the main gate, where I saw Matt Groening again. Also, saw Joss Whedon in the parking lot, on his way in for the 11am shift. Squee!
StrikeSnacks: Nothing beyond the usual here either. Welcome to Week 6 of the strike, folks.
Pedometer: 4.9mi
Thursday - Jeebus, it's been chilly. It's all about the LAYERS, people! Tried out a new parking spot courtesy of friend and WBTV Writers Workshop classmate Jim, another magic spot where you don't have to move every two hours but a mere block from the main gate. It's so sweet (and the spots so limited) that I'm undecided on whether to tell anyone else about it. Picketed and chatted awhile with some awesome MOONLIGHT fans. We also had another visit from a NegComm member, who gave updates and answered questions. This kind of info-sharing and support from the leadership has been very welcome; it's so important to keep this communication going.
StrikeSnacks: Bagels and cream cheese from aforementioned Moonlighters!
Pedometer: 2.0mi
Friday - No official picketing today, but I do drive to Burbank for a location picket, only to get an email and voicemail that it was cancelled at the last minute (thanks, BooM, sorry I was surly!). Will try again at the next opportunity...
Monday -Tried the 2pm-5pm shift for a change. Brr, cold! Miscalculated on layers. Saw a bunch of new faces on this shift, as well as familiar ones from my class of the Warner Bros. TV Writers Workshop. We end the day heading back to gates 2/3 for a good showing behind the Channel 4 newsguy.
StrikeSnacks: Smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. A little too cold today to fully appreciate them, but they were tasty! Doughnuts, box of trail mix bars
Pedometer: 3.4mi
Tuesday - Back to my usual WB shift of 8-11am. I believe today was Bring an Actor to Picket Day, although the SAG support has been so terrific that pretty much every day counts in that regard. However, the sightings today were choice, including Garret Dillahunt (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, DEADWOOD, JOHN FROM CINCINNATI) and swoonworthy Peter Krause (DIRTY SEXY MONEY, SIX FEET UNDER). Keen-eyed Kay also spotted Victor Garber stopped at the light, and we got him to smile and honk. It was teh awesomez. Jack Bristow gave us honks of support from his Prius! Guest picketers also included the Pink Hat Brigade, women sci fi writers who've been visiting different picket lines each week.
StrikeSnacks: Nothing beyond the usual WGA-supplied noshes.
Pedometer: 2.7mi
Wednesday - @ Fox today, ready for the 8am-cold-to-11am-sun with multiple layers. Started off at the Truck gate and met some great people courtesy of my friend Karine including showrunners Barbara Hall and Anne Kenney. There was a fender bender between one honking-in-support car and another-- did we cause that? Oops. Moved with a small contingent to the Galaxy gate, which was unstaffed. Finished my tour with the big line at the main gate, where I saw Matt Groening again. Also, saw Joss Whedon in the parking lot, on his way in for the 11am shift. Squee!
StrikeSnacks: Nothing beyond the usual here either. Welcome to Week 6 of the strike, folks.
Pedometer: 4.9mi
Thursday - Jeebus, it's been chilly. It's all about the LAYERS, people! Tried out a new parking spot courtesy of friend and WBTV Writers Workshop classmate Jim, another magic spot where you don't have to move every two hours but a mere block from the main gate. It's so sweet (and the spots so limited) that I'm undecided on whether to tell anyone else about it. Picketed and chatted awhile with some awesome MOONLIGHT fans. We also had another visit from a NegComm member, who gave updates and answered questions. This kind of info-sharing and support from the leadership has been very welcome; it's so important to keep this communication going.
StrikeSnacks: Bagels and cream cheese from aforementioned Moonlighters!
Pedometer: 2.0mi
Friday - No official picketing today, but I do drive to Burbank for a location picket, only to get an email and voicemail that it was cancelled at the last minute (thanks, BooM, sorry I was surly!). Will try again at the next opportunity...
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year!
Hope y'all had a great holiday. I'm WAY behind on strike notes, and hope to get to those tomorrow.
In the meantime, a couple of lolcat wishes for 2008:
In the meantime, a couple of lolcat wishes for 2008:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Strike Notes: Week 5
12/3-12/7
Monday - Tried out a new place to park, courtesy of a tip from fellow picketers. It's kind of a hike, but you don't have to move your car every two hours. Turnout was good today, spirits remain high. I caught up with Bill Kelly, the writer of ENCHANTED, who I met the first week of the strike and congratulated him on the movie. I really liked it, and feel that its success is earned. It's smart but not arch, and sweet but not saccharine. At a screening tonight of JUNO (very good too, btw, sort of GHOST WORLD meets John Hughes) I saw and said hi to a number of people from the WB line. Represent!
StrikeSnacks: Some miscellaneous candy among the WGA-supplied snackies.
Pedometer: About 2.4mi
Tuesday - Whoof, was it hot today, even on the early shift. More construction disruption, this time a crew repainting the crosswalk across Olive. It was perfectly visible before, mind you. Some writers from THE OFFICE were visiting today, including the guy who also plays Toby, the put-upon and sweet HR guy. Adorable! I put in an extra hour today since I won't be able to make Friday's rally.
StrikeSnacks: Kinda light. Homemade chocolate chip cookies, and a homemade cake. Bowl of Trader Joe's madeleines at Gate 4.
Pedometer: 4.08mi! I chalk that up to the longer shift and a trek to Gate 7, which is basically Mordor. You do pass by the Barham gate of Universal and its friendly picketers, which is like Rivendell before the final stretch in the full sun to that remote place.
Maybe the Barham gate's more like Lothlorien, since that was the last real refuge before Mordor? Or maybe Meduseld, since we picketers are embattled like the Rohirim, hardly like the Galadriel and elves--
Whoa nelly. Went down a big Tolkien geek rabbit hole there.
Happy, The Boyfriend?
Wednesday - Warm again today, and I dressed all wrong since the weather guys said it was going to be cooler! The weather guys must be eating what the AMPTP is feeding, just like Variety. Yet more sidewalk painting. "Your strike is going on too long," says the construction guy when someone asks. YOU THINK? C'mon AMPTP, get with the program. Today is blogger today on my regular 8-11am shift at WB, so we're joined by John August, Jane Espenson, Josh Friedman, etc. I also have a gamer grrl geek-out moment when I meet and briefly chat with Jordan "Prince of Persia" Mechner. A bunch of fans come to chat with the bloggers, including a woman who flew all the way from Houston to attend this as well as Friday's Mutant Enemy picket.
Pedometer: Reset partway through the day when I bumped it. Argh! I'm guessing about 2.5mi
StrikeSnacks: Little boxes of raisins courtesy of Preferred Artists Agency
Thursday - YET MORE STREET WORK. This time they're tearing up the other side of the street as last week, complete with jackhammers and foul asphalt fumes. It's truly horrible, but we don't leave. And I can't believe all this construction is a coincidence. I don't mean to get all tinfoil hat, but c'mon. I spot Annabeth Gish, picketing with the creator of her show BROTHERHOOD, Blake Masters. It's Bring Your Dog To Picket Day, so we have a few visits from worthy hounds. At the check-in table they're giving away red dog bandannas that read, "Don't Make Us Beg." Stayed another extra hour day today in advance of missing the rally.
StrikeSnacks: Dog food. You know, for actual dogs.
Pedometer: 3.01mi
Friday - Was out of town today, but it sounds like the rally, targeting reality writing, was a success. I can't believe the studios haven't gotten nailed on labor practices alone for reality show writers.
I check my email after my flight to learn that the AMPTP broke off negotiations, just as many had predicted. See you in Week 6, folks!
Monday - Tried out a new place to park, courtesy of a tip from fellow picketers. It's kind of a hike, but you don't have to move your car every two hours. Turnout was good today, spirits remain high. I caught up with Bill Kelly, the writer of ENCHANTED, who I met the first week of the strike and congratulated him on the movie. I really liked it, and feel that its success is earned. It's smart but not arch, and sweet but not saccharine. At a screening tonight of JUNO (very good too, btw, sort of GHOST WORLD meets John Hughes) I saw and said hi to a number of people from the WB line. Represent!
StrikeSnacks: Some miscellaneous candy among the WGA-supplied snackies.
Pedometer: About 2.4mi
Tuesday - Whoof, was it hot today, even on the early shift. More construction disruption, this time a crew repainting the crosswalk across Olive. It was perfectly visible before, mind you. Some writers from THE OFFICE were visiting today, including the guy who also plays Toby, the put-upon and sweet HR guy. Adorable! I put in an extra hour today since I won't be able to make Friday's rally.
StrikeSnacks: Kinda light. Homemade chocolate chip cookies, and a homemade cake. Bowl of Trader Joe's madeleines at Gate 4.
Pedometer: 4.08mi! I chalk that up to the longer shift and a trek to Gate 7, which is basically Mordor. You do pass by the Barham gate of Universal and its friendly picketers, which is like Rivendell before the final stretch in the full sun to that remote place.
Maybe the Barham gate's more like Lothlorien, since that was the last real refuge before Mordor? Or maybe Meduseld, since we picketers are embattled like the Rohirim, hardly like the Galadriel and elves--
Whoa nelly. Went down a big Tolkien geek rabbit hole there.
Happy, The Boyfriend?
Wednesday - Warm again today, and I dressed all wrong since the weather guys said it was going to be cooler! The weather guys must be eating what the AMPTP is feeding, just like Variety. Yet more sidewalk painting. "Your strike is going on too long," says the construction guy when someone asks. YOU THINK? C'mon AMPTP, get with the program. Today is blogger today on my regular 8-11am shift at WB, so we're joined by John August, Jane Espenson, Josh Friedman, etc. I also have a gamer grrl geek-out moment when I meet and briefly chat with Jordan "Prince of Persia" Mechner. A bunch of fans come to chat with the bloggers, including a woman who flew all the way from Houston to attend this as well as Friday's Mutant Enemy picket.
Pedometer: Reset partway through the day when I bumped it. Argh! I'm guessing about 2.5mi
StrikeSnacks: Little boxes of raisins courtesy of Preferred Artists Agency
Thursday - YET MORE STREET WORK. This time they're tearing up the other side of the street as last week, complete with jackhammers and foul asphalt fumes. It's truly horrible, but we don't leave. And I can't believe all this construction is a coincidence. I don't mean to get all tinfoil hat, but c'mon. I spot Annabeth Gish, picketing with the creator of her show BROTHERHOOD, Blake Masters. It's Bring Your Dog To Picket Day, so we have a few visits from worthy hounds. At the check-in table they're giving away red dog bandannas that read, "Don't Make Us Beg." Stayed another extra hour day today in advance of missing the rally.
StrikeSnacks: Dog food. You know, for actual dogs.
Pedometer: 3.01mi
Friday - Was out of town today, but it sounds like the rally, targeting reality writing, was a success. I can't believe the studios haven't gotten nailed on labor practices alone for reality show writers.
I check my email after my flight to learn that the AMPTP broke off negotiations, just as many had predicted. See you in Week 6, folks!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
2007 Strikers Guide to Los Angeles Studios
Hee! Zagat, eat your heart out.
The WB description is pretty on point, I have to say, likewise Fox for the one day I sampled it. Anyone care to weigh in on how the other studios are depicted?
The WB description is pretty on point, I have to say, likewise Fox for the one day I sampled it. Anyone care to weigh in on how the other studios are depicted?
Monday, December 10, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Vote for MOONLIGHT in the People's Choice Awards!
Hey, my show's a finalist for the People's Choice Awards!
You're a person, right? You make choices, right? So why not choose MOONLIGHT for Favorite New TV Drama? On all the computers you have access to?
Thanks!
You're a person, right? You make choices, right? So why not choose MOONLIGHT for Favorite New TV Drama? On all the computers you have access to?
Thanks!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
The AMPTP House Organ?
Here are the trades' headlines for Tuesday's WGA-AMPTP negotiation session:
Variety: WGA strike talks resume: Sides still far apart after four-day break
The Hollywood Reporter: It's a holiday miracle: Sides 'actually talk'
The stories that follow uphold the tone of those headlines. Again, these stories are covering the exact same session.
When you recall that demoralizing the opposition in the press is a key management tactic in labor disputes, it should come as no surprise that Variety also recently published an article forecasting March as when the strike might end.
Well, it's not like the writers and actors and other unions are the ones buying the ads.
Variety: WGA strike talks resume: Sides still far apart after four-day break
The Hollywood Reporter: It's a holiday miracle: Sides 'actually talk'
The stories that follow uphold the tone of those headlines. Again, these stories are covering the exact same session.
When you recall that demoralizing the opposition in the press is a key management tactic in labor disputes, it should come as no surprise that Variety also recently published an article forecasting March as when the strike might end.
Well, it's not like the writers and actors and other unions are the ones buying the ads.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Blogger Day at Warner Bros. Tomorrow
A bunch of name screenwriting bloggers will be on the 8am-11am shift at WB tomorrow: Jane Espenson, Craig Mazin, Josh Friedman, and John August.
While I'm hardly a name, that's my usual shift, so I'll be there too. :) See you at Gates 2/3!
While I'm hardly a name, that's my usual shift, so I'll be there too. :) See you at Gates 2/3!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Strike Notes: Week 4
11/26-11/30
Monday - First week for the new hours and shorter shift, the 8-11am for me today. Quieter than last week, but still a good turnout. One picketer had a giant "HONK TO SUPPORT THE WRITERS" sign made, a big vinyl one that takes two people to hold upright, which quickly becomes the star of Gate 4. Very effective. Back at Gates 2/3, the insano jackhammering continues, and the WB Director of Safety very kindly comes out with a box of earplugs for us to use and pass around.
StrikeSnacks: Homemade cupcakes from visiting Fox reality show writers! The writers passed out the cupcakes themselves, but plenty of food has appeared with no apparent owner. This prompted a discussion on how in this weird time people will eat unpackaged food that just appears. Would you do that on the street, normally?
Tuesday - The big event today was the exorcism! A gathering of horror writers assembled, some dressed as nuns and priests, and exorcised the demons of greed that have been plaguing the studios. Spent some time at Gate 4B (or is it A?), the one further along past the executive gate. Pretty quiet. And idiot me got a parking ticket for not noticing the CLEARLY POSTED no parking 8-10am Tuesday for street sweeping sign. Doh.
StrikeSnacks: A student and 'Bucks barista generously brought coffee and Krispy Kremes and picketed with us for a while. And I missed what may've been the coolest moment of the strike at WB so far, the delivery by hand of croissants from the Wachowski siblings! They dropped off the treats at Gate 4 and voiced their support before heading into work.
Wednesday - Nothing to report, really. We're still amazed that people driving past continue to honk in support -- they must see us every day on their flight paths. We appreciate the honks, peeps!
StrikeSnacks: Anonymous doughnuts
Thursday - Was @ Fox today for a change of scenery. Love the stress-free 4-hour parking right by the picket base camp, but the bathroom situation, public bathroom in a park, leaves something to be desired compared to Gates 2/3 at WB. Fox has you sign in with the time you arrive and sign out, unlike WB. This feels a little Big Brotherish, but I see how it makes sense, since it lets people make their own custom shifts like my 8:07-11:15am.
Good turnout when I arrive, and MASSES when I leave. Apparently Fox is a bit of a scene, being the chief Westside option for picketers. Spotted Matt Groening. Fox also has a true picket line, walking in a circle instead of crossing the street back and forth like we do at WB, probably because there's space for a real picket. After a bit of that, I go on "honk duty" with a few other people, trading in my generic sign for one exhorting honks, which I then wave and generally look like an idiot trying to get drivers to honk. Worked out okay. Got two consecutive busfuls of kids hollering in support, which was excellent.
Oh! And I got a pedometer. Was curious how far I was walking... curious no longer!
StrikeSnacks: An odd assortment of stuff. Bags of nuts, homemade springerle-type cookies, doughnuts from a few places, and a case of Red Bull. Zing!
Pedometer: 2.74mi
Friday - Heard about the rally at Sony only after it was over. Nothing about it on the Guild site, United Hollywood, or by email. Ah well. It was cold and rainy anyway -- props to all who made it down there!
Monday - First week for the new hours and shorter shift, the 8-11am for me today. Quieter than last week, but still a good turnout. One picketer had a giant "HONK TO SUPPORT THE WRITERS" sign made, a big vinyl one that takes two people to hold upright, which quickly becomes the star of Gate 4. Very effective. Back at Gates 2/3, the insano jackhammering continues, and the WB Director of Safety very kindly comes out with a box of earplugs for us to use and pass around.
StrikeSnacks: Homemade cupcakes from visiting Fox reality show writers! The writers passed out the cupcakes themselves, but plenty of food has appeared with no apparent owner. This prompted a discussion on how in this weird time people will eat unpackaged food that just appears. Would you do that on the street, normally?
Tuesday - The big event today was the exorcism! A gathering of horror writers assembled, some dressed as nuns and priests, and exorcised the demons of greed that have been plaguing the studios. Spent some time at Gate 4B (or is it A?), the one further along past the executive gate. Pretty quiet. And idiot me got a parking ticket for not noticing the CLEARLY POSTED no parking 8-10am Tuesday for street sweeping sign. Doh.
StrikeSnacks: A student and 'Bucks barista generously brought coffee and Krispy Kremes and picketed with us for a while. And I missed what may've been the coolest moment of the strike at WB so far, the delivery by hand of croissants from the Wachowski siblings! They dropped off the treats at Gate 4 and voiced their support before heading into work.
Wednesday - Nothing to report, really. We're still amazed that people driving past continue to honk in support -- they must see us every day on their flight paths. We appreciate the honks, peeps!
StrikeSnacks: Anonymous doughnuts
Thursday - Was @ Fox today for a change of scenery. Love the stress-free 4-hour parking right by the picket base camp, but the bathroom situation, public bathroom in a park, leaves something to be desired compared to Gates 2/3 at WB. Fox has you sign in with the time you arrive and sign out, unlike WB. This feels a little Big Brotherish, but I see how it makes sense, since it lets people make their own custom shifts like my 8:07-11:15am.
Good turnout when I arrive, and MASSES when I leave. Apparently Fox is a bit of a scene, being the chief Westside option for picketers. Spotted Matt Groening. Fox also has a true picket line, walking in a circle instead of crossing the street back and forth like we do at WB, probably because there's space for a real picket. After a bit of that, I go on "honk duty" with a few other people, trading in my generic sign for one exhorting honks, which I then wave and generally look like an idiot trying to get drivers to honk. Worked out okay. Got two consecutive busfuls of kids hollering in support, which was excellent.
Oh! And I got a pedometer. Was curious how far I was walking... curious no longer!
StrikeSnacks: An odd assortment of stuff. Bags of nuts, homemade springerle-type cookies, doughnuts from a few places, and a case of Red Bull. Zing!
Pedometer: 2.74mi
Friday - Heard about the rally at Sony only after it was over. Nothing about it on the Guild site, United Hollywood, or by email. Ah well. It was cold and rainy anyway -- props to all who made it down there!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
WGA Strike LOLCat Theater #2
See you back on the line, friends. Here's hoping for a more productive week at the table.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
What's In a Name?
The AMPTP's latest proposal is glowingly entitled the New Economic Partnership. The thinking behind the moniker appears to be the same as that of the Patriot Act and No Child Left Behind.
Such wonderful, inarguable titles. Who doesn't want to be a patriot? Who in their right mind would want to leave a child behind? But while these documents sound terrific by name, of course, they hide all sorts of less-than-terrificness inside. The canker in the rose and all that.
In the case of the New Economic Partnership, what's being suggested sounds like the kind of partnership where one partner wears a zipper-mouth hood and a ball gag.
Such wonderful, inarguable titles. Who doesn't want to be a patriot? Who in their right mind would want to leave a child behind? But while these documents sound terrific by name, of course, they hide all sorts of less-than-terrificness inside. The canker in the rose and all that.
In the case of the New Economic Partnership, what's being suggested sounds like the kind of partnership where one partner wears a zipper-mouth hood and a ball gag.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
This Just In... A Big Bag o' Spin
So this evening's exciting new proposal from the AMPTP that had the local news anchors breathless breaking into their regular coverage?
Not so exciting.
Sigh.
Not so exciting.
Sigh.
Hey BATTLESTAR Fans: Support Writers and Go See Hockey With Chief Tyrol!
Share a pretzel, talk about Cylons (dating vs. being), swap tips on how to mount an insurgency against an occupying force of oppressive killer robots, cheer the Canucks.
Ron Moore's posted details at his blog on how to enter a cool raffle for sender-inners of Pencils2Moguls, with more to come.
Enter early, enter often!
Ron Moore's posted details at his blog on how to enter a cool raffle for sender-inners of Pencils2Moguls, with more to come.
Enter early, enter often!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Strike Notes: Week 2-3
Daily notes from 11/13 until Tofurkey Day.
All this week construction crews were working on the sidewalk right by what had been our base camp location, installing fiber optic cable for Warner Bros. We got got dust-filled air, earsplitting jackhammers (crew had earplugs, we did not), blocked-off roads making our van park farther away, and we had to keep relocating the base camp.
Tinfoil hat alert #1: Coincidence that this was going on during picket hours? I think not...
Tuesday - A smaller crowd at WB today due to Picketing With the Stars at Universal, which went shockingly underreported in both local and national media. Tinfoil hat alert #2: The same Big Media that we're striking against owns all those outlets, of course.
From Gate 4 we could see the CSI FANS SUPPORT THE WGA sky banner circling the festivities, although from our vantage point it read AGW EHT TROPPUS SNAF ISC.
Gate 4 is a well-kept secret of WB picketing. It's shady most of the day, which was important during that mini heat wave we had. But it's also quieter, and the executive gate, which means you have to work harder for honks, and you get a few more grumps who flip you off or give the thumbs-down than at Gate 2/3. Some guy yelled that we were holding up his production or something. To which I say, DUH. "Strike," people. Look it up.
More new chants:
Why are we emotional? Streaming's not promotional!
Why are we screaming? It's called free streaming!
Hey hey Bugs Bunny! Stealing money isn't funny!
And we also started just yelling out lines from movies, especially relevant ones like "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!" and "Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"
Every day the WGA brings water and boxes of various snacks such as chips and energy bars, and often picketers will bring stuff as well like coffee or doughnuts, but it's been cool seeing what other parties have donated to the cause (and our waistlines) to show support.
Today's StrikeSnacks: Pizza from South Bay BMW.
Wednesday - The first of three days of the early shift this week, early meaning 6am-10am. Ye gods and little fishes, is 4:15am early if you're not used to it. I am not used to it. Traffic to Burbank is light but weirdly macho at that hour. Lots of trucks, big rigs and pickups, driven by the kind of guys who drive trucks at 5:30 in the morning, and in that manner. In my tiny car, I'm a little scared.
Was on Gate 9 today, which is the truck gate at WB, where arriving trucks get their permits to get onto the lot at Gate 7. There was no one on the gate when we got there (7 was covered), so we felt needed. A lot of smiles and waves from arriving Teamsters, but we didn't turn anyone around unless you count that one pickup who did a U-turn in the middle of the street. I think he was just lost. The employees at the gate were supernice to us, letting us use their bathroom.
StrikeSnacks: Granola bars and something else (flavored coffee creamers?) from SUPERNATURAL fans.
Thursday - Our first ugly encounter at WB. Guess we were due. A guy, a crew member of some kind, went off on us about how rich and selfish we are and how he "stands to lose everything at Christmas" thanks to the strike. He wasn't interested in listening to how all unions are in this fight together against Big Media, or that residuals pay into his health and pension fund, or the realities of how most writers live, or that the WGA has been ready to negotiate this whole time and the AMPTP is the side refusing to talk and causing the strike to continue. He just wanted to yell.
"I shit on your protest," he said, and we couldn't help noting that he chose a group of all women to rant at. Big man. But his anger and fear are real and valid, if misdirected at a bunch of girls in red t-shirts. Strikes are not fun things. This one is causing a lot of people real pain.
On the plus side, I met another bunch of cool writers. I learned how research was done for THE PRESTIGE, how BROTHERHOOD outlines episodes, and what the COLD CASE room is like. Reason #152 I probably should have an iPhone: to look people up on IMDB discreetly so I can maybe form an intelligent question beyond, "Wow, is it going to be this hot all week?"
StrikeSnacks: Didn't note any specific food treats, but Totalbeauty.com brought a giant plastic tub filled with boxes of pain relief cream, stickered with a nice message ("WGA... hope the strike ends soon. Apply this for relief after being on the picket line. Thanks for the words."), as well as little bags of picket line essentials like sunscreen, Chapstick, and pocket packs of Kleenex. Very cool!
Friday - Peppier today than it's been, both on the line and in honks from passersby, perhaps due to it being Friday, or the presence of two of WB's best and most energetic cheerleaders, Yvette and BooM. Yay! Go team WB! The high point was the arrival of picketers costumed as three of WB's most famous faces, Tweety, Sylvester, and Bugs Bunny. Their signs were character appropriate: "Sufferin' share-the-cash!" and "What's up, doc? Corporate profits!" A walking photo op.
I've decided that smiling and waving will be my reaction to any and all feedback from the crowd, even some guy sitting in the back of a truck cab doing that scratch-his-cheek-while-flipping-the-bird thing. What are you, 12?
By the way, I'm interested at how varying the reactions have been from Teamsters. That guy was a Teamster, as are those guys who ignore us as they drive past, as are those guys who cross the line but smile and honk and flash the Victory sign, as is one amazingly cool guy who not only refused to cross the line but has been working on it all day everyday at WB, holding a picket sign when he's not driving the WGA supply van or un/loading stuff. All Teamsters.
Tonight there was a dinner at our showrunner's house, and it was fun to see everyone all in the same place again, for a change, and not sweaty and sun-enervated in our red shirts. In the middle of dinner, one person got the email that the WGA and AMPTP will return to the negotiating table on the 26th. Cheers and huzzahs!
* * *
Monday - Did the 6am shift again. I don't mind the early shift, but it's totally screwing up my body clock. Despite the good news from Friday, today was rather subdued, as befits a weirdly foggy morning.
StrikeSnacks: Cupcakes and cookies from Sugar Cup bakery
Tuesday - Big rally in Hollywood! Alicia Keys, zillions of writers and other union reps, another sky banner (WGA - ON THE SAME PAGE).
StrikeSnacks: Tasty mini-scones from CAA. I hear there was cider too, but I didn't see it.
* * *
Off from the picket line today. Used the time to catch up on errands, pay bills (my 5-year-old car is almost paid off! Hear that, Shit-on-your-protest guy? Yeah, we writers all bathe in Cristal.) , and work a bit on some new specs, a DEXTER and a new pilot idea.
Tomorrow through Sunday, The Boyfriend is whisking me away to Las Vegas for some R&R. Yep, he's a keeper. I will attempt to find something vegetarian to eat for Thanksgiving, we'll go see Spamalot and the Star Trek attractions at the Hilton, and drink at lunchtime. Hey, when in faux Rome (or faux Venice or faux Paris or faux Egypt...).
As a final note, America's Second Harvest is one of my favorite charities, especially this time of year. It's appalling how many people go hungry in our land of plenty. It's easy to donate online, if you have the inclination.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
All this week construction crews were working on the sidewalk right by what had been our base camp location, installing fiber optic cable for Warner Bros. We got got dust-filled air, earsplitting jackhammers (crew had earplugs, we did not), blocked-off roads making our van park farther away, and we had to keep relocating the base camp.
Tinfoil hat alert #1: Coincidence that this was going on during picket hours? I think not...
Tuesday - A smaller crowd at WB today due to Picketing With the Stars at Universal, which went shockingly underreported in both local and national media. Tinfoil hat alert #2: The same Big Media that we're striking against owns all those outlets, of course.
From Gate 4 we could see the CSI FANS SUPPORT THE WGA sky banner circling the festivities, although from our vantage point it read AGW EHT TROPPUS SNAF ISC.
Gate 4 is a well-kept secret of WB picketing. It's shady most of the day, which was important during that mini heat wave we had. But it's also quieter, and the executive gate, which means you have to work harder for honks, and you get a few more grumps who flip you off or give the thumbs-down than at Gate 2/3. Some guy yelled that we were holding up his production or something. To which I say, DUH. "Strike," people. Look it up.
More new chants:
Why are we emotional? Streaming's not promotional!
Why are we screaming? It's called free streaming!
Hey hey Bugs Bunny! Stealing money isn't funny!
And we also started just yelling out lines from movies, especially relevant ones like "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!" and "Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"
Every day the WGA brings water and boxes of various snacks such as chips and energy bars, and often picketers will bring stuff as well like coffee or doughnuts, but it's been cool seeing what other parties have donated to the cause (and our waistlines) to show support.
Today's StrikeSnacks: Pizza from South Bay BMW.
Wednesday - The first of three days of the early shift this week, early meaning 6am-10am. Ye gods and little fishes, is 4:15am early if you're not used to it. I am not used to it. Traffic to Burbank is light but weirdly macho at that hour. Lots of trucks, big rigs and pickups, driven by the kind of guys who drive trucks at 5:30 in the morning, and in that manner. In my tiny car, I'm a little scared.
Was on Gate 9 today, which is the truck gate at WB, where arriving trucks get their permits to get onto the lot at Gate 7. There was no one on the gate when we got there (7 was covered), so we felt needed. A lot of smiles and waves from arriving Teamsters, but we didn't turn anyone around unless you count that one pickup who did a U-turn in the middle of the street. I think he was just lost. The employees at the gate were supernice to us, letting us use their bathroom.
StrikeSnacks: Granola bars and something else (flavored coffee creamers?) from SUPERNATURAL fans.
Thursday - Our first ugly encounter at WB. Guess we were due. A guy, a crew member of some kind, went off on us about how rich and selfish we are and how he "stands to lose everything at Christmas" thanks to the strike. He wasn't interested in listening to how all unions are in this fight together against Big Media, or that residuals pay into his health and pension fund, or the realities of how most writers live, or that the WGA has been ready to negotiate this whole time and the AMPTP is the side refusing to talk and causing the strike to continue. He just wanted to yell.
"I shit on your protest," he said, and we couldn't help noting that he chose a group of all women to rant at. Big man. But his anger and fear are real and valid, if misdirected at a bunch of girls in red t-shirts. Strikes are not fun things. This one is causing a lot of people real pain.
On the plus side, I met another bunch of cool writers. I learned how research was done for THE PRESTIGE, how BROTHERHOOD outlines episodes, and what the COLD CASE room is like. Reason #152 I probably should have an iPhone: to look people up on IMDB discreetly so I can maybe form an intelligent question beyond, "Wow, is it going to be this hot all week?"
StrikeSnacks: Didn't note any specific food treats, but Totalbeauty.com brought a giant plastic tub filled with boxes of pain relief cream, stickered with a nice message ("WGA... hope the strike ends soon. Apply this for relief after being on the picket line. Thanks for the words."), as well as little bags of picket line essentials like sunscreen, Chapstick, and pocket packs of Kleenex. Very cool!
Friday - Peppier today than it's been, both on the line and in honks from passersby, perhaps due to it being Friday, or the presence of two of WB's best and most energetic cheerleaders, Yvette and BooM. Yay! Go team WB! The high point was the arrival of picketers costumed as three of WB's most famous faces, Tweety, Sylvester, and Bugs Bunny. Their signs were character appropriate: "Sufferin' share-the-cash!" and "What's up, doc? Corporate profits!" A walking photo op.
I've decided that smiling and waving will be my reaction to any and all feedback from the crowd, even some guy sitting in the back of a truck cab doing that scratch-his-cheek-while-flipping-the-bird thing. What are you, 12?
By the way, I'm interested at how varying the reactions have been from Teamsters. That guy was a Teamster, as are those guys who ignore us as they drive past, as are those guys who cross the line but smile and honk and flash the Victory sign, as is one amazingly cool guy who not only refused to cross the line but has been working on it all day everyday at WB, holding a picket sign when he's not driving the WGA supply van or un/loading stuff. All Teamsters.
Tonight there was a dinner at our showrunner's house, and it was fun to see everyone all in the same place again, for a change, and not sweaty and sun-enervated in our red shirts. In the middle of dinner, one person got the email that the WGA and AMPTP will return to the negotiating table on the 26th. Cheers and huzzahs!
* * *
Monday - Did the 6am shift again. I don't mind the early shift, but it's totally screwing up my body clock. Despite the good news from Friday, today was rather subdued, as befits a weirdly foggy morning.
StrikeSnacks: Cupcakes and cookies from Sugar Cup bakery
Tuesday - Big rally in Hollywood! Alicia Keys, zillions of writers and other union reps, another sky banner (WGA - ON THE SAME PAGE).
StrikeSnacks: Tasty mini-scones from CAA. I hear there was cider too, but I didn't see it.
* * *
Off from the picket line today. Used the time to catch up on errands, pay bills (my 5-year-old car is almost paid off! Hear that, Shit-on-your-protest guy? Yeah, we writers all bathe in Cristal.) , and work a bit on some new specs, a DEXTER and a new pilot idea.
Tomorrow through Sunday, The Boyfriend is whisking me away to Las Vegas for some R&R. Yep, he's a keeper. I will attempt to find something vegetarian to eat for Thanksgiving, we'll go see Spamalot and the Star Trek attractions at the Hilton, and drink at lunchtime. Hey, when in faux Rome (or faux Venice or faux Paris or faux Egypt...).
As a final note, America's Second Harvest is one of my favorite charities, especially this time of year. It's appalling how many people go hungry in our land of plenty. It's easy to donate online, if you have the inclination.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
We're Paid in Gold and Candy
From The Morning News, enjoy this Letter from Hollywood. What I find terrifying is the strong likelihood that the reality shows listed at the end are already in development.
That's right, AMPTP! Let's start talking again before you inflict BABY NATION and WHO WANTS TO EAT WHAT'S IN THIS BUCKET? on an innocent America.
That's right, AMPTP! Let's start talking again before you inflict BABY NATION and WHO WANTS TO EAT WHAT'S IN THIS BUCKET? on an innocent America.
Monday, November 12, 2007
You Can't Have It Both Ways, AMPTP
You can't cry uncertainty about the internet and then... well, just watch.
Strike Notes, Week 1 (and a smidge of Week 2)
Meant to post this weekend, but I was too frakkin' wiped out and in need of decompressing with The Boyfriend. Many, many blogs have posted insightful reports and perspective from the week, so expect nothing like that here. Cliff notes on the strike so far:
Monday - First day on the line! I show up with friend BooM at Warner Bros. Gate 2, hoist a picket sign, and get to it. I learn that hour 3 is about when you start to flag. Chanting of slogans, lots of general woo-hooing to the many many honks of support. My favorites slogan of the day is "Exterior! Street! Writers are striking!"
Tuesday - Some idiot in a Volvo speeds past, flipping off both sides of the street. It's easy to be an asshat at 30mph. I spend my post-picket time at home online, catching up with all the great coverage including United Hollywood's amazing video street team.
Wednesday - Today we got NOIZ-EE. Clacky hands, party horns, buckets-as-drums, surprisingly noisy small cowbell. I learn that if you have one of the latter, you will go approximately 6 minutes at a time without someone yelling "More cowbell!" from that SNL sketch.
Thursday - Today we got FED. A parade of generous food donations from all manner of supporters. Agents from Paradigm, mine and others, descended in their nice suits with trays of lattes in the p.m. for the shift change. Thanks, guys!
Got a huge boost when fans of MOONLIGHT arrived with pizzas, a great sign ("Vampire solidarity! Rah rah rah!") and welcome moral support. Very cool.
And, we learn that our assistants got laid off. Not very cool. But they've since joined us on the line. Very cool again.
Friday - Rally, with inspiring speakers I couldn't quite hear over the insufficient sound system and HUGE crowd, but which I caught up on via YouTube. You know, that crazy new internet thing.
I hafta say, between the blogs, YouTube, Cafe Press supporter swag, fan petitions, etc. etc. The AMPTP is getting PWNED online. It is fairly awesome.
A "ring girl" walks around the rally with a "Day 5" sign. Lots of great signs, actually. The one that read "Nick Counter hates puppies and babies" first read to me as "Nick Counter eats puppies and babies." Hell, for all we know, that's true.
More agency food love! Assistants from CAA circulated with churros, UTA's young turks made the rounds with energy bars, and the kids from WMA staffed not one but two bagel and coffee stations. Writers love carbs. There was also a Guaraki truck, and someone handing out water in bottles that looked like flasks. Or maybe it just looked like water...
Monday - New shift hours. I'm trying the O-dark-thirty shift W-F this week. May indulge my inner fangirl to visit the Barham gate of Universal tomorrow, where I believe the Battlestar Galactica peeps will be. A Vitaminwater truck came by to cheer us up at Gate 4 and left us some cold drinks. I have little calluses starting on my hands from my picket sign. I'm oddly proud of them.
A final thought for the AMPTP, courtesy of Spoon:
You got no time for the messenger,
got no regard for the thing that you don't understand,
you got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive.
Monday - First day on the line! I show up with friend BooM at Warner Bros. Gate 2, hoist a picket sign, and get to it. I learn that hour 3 is about when you start to flag. Chanting of slogans, lots of general woo-hooing to the many many honks of support. My favorites slogan of the day is "Exterior! Street! Writers are striking!"
Tuesday - Some idiot in a Volvo speeds past, flipping off both sides of the street. It's easy to be an asshat at 30mph. I spend my post-picket time at home online, catching up with all the great coverage including United Hollywood's amazing video street team.
Wednesday - Today we got NOIZ-EE. Clacky hands, party horns, buckets-as-drums, surprisingly noisy small cowbell. I learn that if you have one of the latter, you will go approximately 6 minutes at a time without someone yelling "More cowbell!" from that SNL sketch.
Thursday - Today we got FED. A parade of generous food donations from all manner of supporters. Agents from Paradigm, mine and others, descended in their nice suits with trays of lattes in the p.m. for the shift change. Thanks, guys!
Got a huge boost when fans of MOONLIGHT arrived with pizzas, a great sign ("Vampire solidarity! Rah rah rah!") and welcome moral support. Very cool.
And, we learn that our assistants got laid off. Not very cool. But they've since joined us on the line. Very cool again.
Friday - Rally, with inspiring speakers I couldn't quite hear over the insufficient sound system and HUGE crowd, but which I caught up on via YouTube. You know, that crazy new internet thing.
I hafta say, between the blogs, YouTube, Cafe Press supporter swag, fan petitions, etc. etc. The AMPTP is getting PWNED online. It is fairly awesome.
A "ring girl" walks around the rally with a "Day 5" sign. Lots of great signs, actually. The one that read "Nick Counter hates puppies and babies" first read to me as "Nick Counter eats puppies and babies." Hell, for all we know, that's true.
More agency food love! Assistants from CAA circulated with churros, UTA's young turks made the rounds with energy bars, and the kids from WMA staffed not one but two bagel and coffee stations. Writers love carbs. There was also a Guaraki truck, and someone handing out water in bottles that looked like flasks. Or maybe it just looked like water...
Monday - New shift hours. I'm trying the O-dark-thirty shift W-F this week. May indulge my inner fangirl to visit the Barham gate of Universal tomorrow, where I believe the Battlestar Galactica peeps will be. A Vitaminwater truck came by to cheer us up at Gate 4 and left us some cold drinks. I have little calluses starting on my hands from my picket sign. I'm oddly proud of them.
A final thought for the AMPTP, courtesy of Spoon:
You got no time for the messenger,
got no regard for the thing that you don't understand,
you got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
United Hollywood
Fab new blog, on the sidebar. Minty, refreshing fizz for all that AMPTP bullshit-induced dyspepsia.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Why We Fight
In case you haven't seen it, or don't yet grok what the WGA strike is all about, here's a helpful video:
Check out wgaamerica's page on YouTube for more, including video logs of the strike.
Check out wgaamerica's page on YouTube for more, including video logs of the strike.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
I HAS A LABOR DISPUTE*
While there are promising rumblings about the negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP, the strike is still on. Unless word comes down otherwise, I will be joining many of my brother and sister writerfolk at Warner Bros. on the picket line, starting tomorrow morning.
The WGA meeting Thursday night was something else, and not just because I was thisclose to writers whose work inspired me to become a writer in the first place. There were about 3000 of us, and the amped-up vibe of solidarity was palpable. Also cool was the college-reunion feel to the thing, as writers who hadn't seen each other since previous projects had a chance to catch up. We really felt like a community that night, and I deeply hope that's the feeling that we'll carry into the days, weeks, years ahead, strike or no.
The energy at work on Friday? Odd. Half manic DEFCON-1 as we pushed hard to get work in under the wire, half gallows humor, bittersweet, that reminded me of nothing so much as when a company goes through layoffs, complete with farewell hugs and the carrying out of office personal items in boxes and bags.
My show, MOONLIGHT, is on the bubble and it's unclear what a protracted strike would mean for us. I'm worried that the show might get canceled once the shot episodes have all aired. I'm wondering if we'll all get fired off force majeure even if the show isn't canceled. I'm sad at possibly not working with those terrific writers, staff, cast, and crew again, all of whom would feel the effects of a strike. I don't know how hard it will be for me to get my next job when the dust settles. I don't know how hard it will be for my aspiring writer friends to get their first. I'm disappointed at letting down our fans, who love the show and are really upset at the thought of it going away, as they follow the strike news with as much interest as industry insiders. Oh, and I'd prefer not to burn through my savings.
But honestly, all those, while valid, are short-term and largely self-directed concerns and I recognize them as such.
The big picture is a fair agreement for all writers now and in the future.
So I'll be out in Burbank tomorrow in my sneaks, picketing. Can you come join us? You can, says the WGA.
Eyes on the prize. Stay strong.
*At work on Friday, we were joking about lolcat-style picket signs, should we be allowed to write our own. E.g. I CAN HAS FAIR AND REASONABLE CONTRACT? And REZIDUALZ - DO WANT. For the six people driving past who would understand? Hilarious.
The WGA meeting Thursday night was something else, and not just because I was thisclose to writers whose work inspired me to become a writer in the first place. There were about 3000 of us, and the amped-up vibe of solidarity was palpable. Also cool was the college-reunion feel to the thing, as writers who hadn't seen each other since previous projects had a chance to catch up. We really felt like a community that night, and I deeply hope that's the feeling that we'll carry into the days, weeks, years ahead, strike or no.
The energy at work on Friday? Odd. Half manic DEFCON-1 as we pushed hard to get work in under the wire, half gallows humor, bittersweet, that reminded me of nothing so much as when a company goes through layoffs, complete with farewell hugs and the carrying out of office personal items in boxes and bags.
My show, MOONLIGHT, is on the bubble and it's unclear what a protracted strike would mean for us. I'm worried that the show might get canceled once the shot episodes have all aired. I'm wondering if we'll all get fired off force majeure even if the show isn't canceled. I'm sad at possibly not working with those terrific writers, staff, cast, and crew again, all of whom would feel the effects of a strike. I don't know how hard it will be for me to get my next job when the dust settles. I don't know how hard it will be for my aspiring writer friends to get their first. I'm disappointed at letting down our fans, who love the show and are really upset at the thought of it going away, as they follow the strike news with as much interest as industry insiders. Oh, and I'd prefer not to burn through my savings.
But honestly, all those, while valid, are short-term and largely self-directed concerns and I recognize them as such.
The big picture is a fair agreement for all writers now and in the future.
So I'll be out in Burbank tomorrow in my sneaks, picketing. Can you come join us? You can, says the WGA.
Eyes on the prize. Stay strong.
*At work on Friday, we were joking about lolcat-style picket signs, should we be allowed to write our own. E.g. I CAN HAS FAIR AND REASONABLE CONTRACT? And REZIDUALZ - DO WANT. For the six people driving past who would understand? Hilarious.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
On the Scene of THE WIRE
Courtesy of Running With My Eyes Closed comes a tip about a fantastic New Yorker article on THE WIRE.
If you watch the show, you'll get insight into how the production's run, how the actors work with the writers, how the show's creators met and what their backgrounds are, and what they envisioned when embarking on THE WIRE.
If you haven't seen the show, OH FOR GOD'S SAKE. Rent it on DVD now and get watching.
THE WIRE is unforgettable, epic television. Sound boring? Hells no. It somehow manages to be funny, damning, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Authentic to the human condition, in other words, providing a literal city's worth of stories with surprising twists and unvarnished endings -- no network cop show, this. It really watches like a novel, so start from season 1. You'll have plenty of time to get caught up before the final season airs in January.
Oh, and David Simon's next project? A series about musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans. I am so there.
If you watch the show, you'll get insight into how the production's run, how the actors work with the writers, how the show's creators met and what their backgrounds are, and what they envisioned when embarking on THE WIRE.
If you haven't seen the show, OH FOR GOD'S SAKE. Rent it on DVD now and get watching.
THE WIRE is unforgettable, epic television. Sound boring? Hells no. It somehow manages to be funny, damning, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Authentic to the human condition, in other words, providing a literal city's worth of stories with surprising twists and unvarnished endings -- no network cop show, this. It really watches like a novel, so start from season 1. You'll have plenty of time to get caught up before the final season airs in January.
Oh, and David Simon's next project? A series about musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans. I am so there.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tools o' the Trade
I'm always interested to find out the different ways writers work, particularly the outline process.
One writer friend has a suh-weet office setup with a big freestanding whiteboard, which I covet (I'm looking at you, BooM). Other friends swear by index cards, which don't really work for me as I have no place to put them.
I don't have an office at home, just a corner of the living room, so my system could not be lower-tech: Post-It stickies on a wall. But it works great.
They're super-easy to rearrange when nailing down the flow of scenes, and for me psychologically easier to discard than index cards -- just crumple, toss (into the recycling bin), and rewrite. The small size forces economy and clarity, which admittedly doesn't stop me from cramming more detail than I really need for a preliminary outline into those little paper squares. But I try to limit myself to the location, a quick few words on the content and purpose of the scene, who's in it, maybe a shred of dialogue.
Once I have the outline settled, I take the stickies over to my computer and turn them into sluglines and outliney paragraphs in Final Draft or Screenwriter, then put them back up on the wall to map any changes as stuff shifts around. Which it inevitably does. I haven't yet played much with using different colored stickies to track A, B, and C stories, but I think it'd work well.
The one downside is that the stickies are not particularly transportable, and I haven't found a good digital system. I know a writer who uses cells in a spreadsheet like index cards or my stickie notes -- I may try that next.
The card view in screenwriting programs doesn't work for me because I want to see the whole episode at a glance. It's easy to tell an act is running long when the stickies are close enough to the floor that the cat can pull one off to chew. And outlining programs (or even just Word docs) give a too-linear view and for me suggest too much detail too early.
At work, we use a mix of whiteboarding and corkboard-and-index-cards when breaking a story. The initial ideas, arc beats, etc. go on the whiteboard, and when the scenes are a little more baked we make cards for them and pin them up on the corkboard in act order.
What system the room uses seems to reflect the preference of the showrunner -- we had a change in leadership, and went from all-whiteboard to the whiteboard-then-cards mix.
What's your system?
One writer friend has a suh-weet office setup with a big freestanding whiteboard, which I covet (I'm looking at you, BooM). Other friends swear by index cards, which don't really work for me as I have no place to put them.
I don't have an office at home, just a corner of the living room, so my system could not be lower-tech: Post-It stickies on a wall. But it works great.
They're super-easy to rearrange when nailing down the flow of scenes, and for me psychologically easier to discard than index cards -- just crumple, toss (into the recycling bin), and rewrite. The small size forces economy and clarity, which admittedly doesn't stop me from cramming more detail than I really need for a preliminary outline into those little paper squares. But I try to limit myself to the location, a quick few words on the content and purpose of the scene, who's in it, maybe a shred of dialogue.
Once I have the outline settled, I take the stickies over to my computer and turn them into sluglines and outliney paragraphs in Final Draft or Screenwriter, then put them back up on the wall to map any changes as stuff shifts around. Which it inevitably does. I haven't yet played much with using different colored stickies to track A, B, and C stories, but I think it'd work well.
The one downside is that the stickies are not particularly transportable, and I haven't found a good digital system. I know a writer who uses cells in a spreadsheet like index cards or my stickie notes -- I may try that next.
The card view in screenwriting programs doesn't work for me because I want to see the whole episode at a glance. It's easy to tell an act is running long when the stickies are close enough to the floor that the cat can pull one off to chew. And outlining programs (or even just Word docs) give a too-linear view and for me suggest too much detail too early.
At work, we use a mix of whiteboarding and corkboard-and-index-cards when breaking a story. The initial ideas, arc beats, etc. go on the whiteboard, and when the scenes are a little more baked we make cards for them and pin them up on the corkboard in act order.
What system the room uses seems to reflect the preference of the showrunner -- we had a change in leadership, and went from all-whiteboard to the whiteboard-then-cards mix.
What's your system?
Friday, September 21, 2007
Phil Klemmer Interview on TWoP
Television Without Pity's posted an in-depth interview with Phil Klemmer (CHUCK, VERONICA MARS). Lots of behind the scenes info on breaking stories, the life of a TV writer, how Phil got into the biz and more.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Odds, Ends
A few tidbits:
MAD MEN was picked up by AMC for another season. Fantastic news! It's one of my favorite new series. Check it out if you haven't yet.
A blog I discovered recently that you must read: Kay Reindl's Seriocity. Kay's a working TV writer, hilarious and smart and opinionated. Also, you remember that story about someone getting hired for a show after the producers read that person's criticism of the show on a fan board? That was Kay. She knows much.
Sam and Jim Go to Hollywood are back after a longish hiatus with a new podcast, wherein they have the enviable problem of lots of cool opportunities and not quite enough time.
Oh, and fall has arrived in Southern California. Summer's probably not done with us yet -- another wave of heat or two seems inevitable -- but there's that nice nip in the air at long last. And fall means the new TV season is here, of course... more on that later.
Finally, here's a nifty compilation of some of the movies Los Angeles and environs have starred in, complete with zooming satellite views and life-to-film transition shots. Tip o' the Dodgers cap to Scott the Reader, on whose blog I found this!
MAD MEN was picked up by AMC for another season. Fantastic news! It's one of my favorite new series. Check it out if you haven't yet.
A blog I discovered recently that you must read: Kay Reindl's Seriocity. Kay's a working TV writer, hilarious and smart and opinionated. Also, you remember that story about someone getting hired for a show after the producers read that person's criticism of the show on a fan board? That was Kay. She knows much.
Sam and Jim Go to Hollywood are back after a longish hiatus with a new podcast, wherein they have the enviable problem of lots of cool opportunities and not quite enough time.
Oh, and fall has arrived in Southern California. Summer's probably not done with us yet -- another wave of heat or two seems inevitable -- but there's that nice nip in the air at long last. And fall means the new TV season is here, of course... more on that later.
Finally, here's a nifty compilation of some of the movies Los Angeles and environs have starred in, complete with zooming satellite views and life-to-film transition shots. Tip o' the Dodgers cap to Scott the Reader, on whose blog I found this!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Dog Days
(Thanks, Shawna, for the nudge... a month since the last post. Stale Hell indeed.)
Remember when summer TV used to suck? Time was I'd catch up on my overflowing Netflix queue in the hot days between spring finales and fall premieres, but no longer. Noooo. Stupid cable, with your ENTOURAGE and WEEDS. And THE CLOSER, RESCUE ME, and BURN NOTICE. And THE MINOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JACKIE WOODMAN and ROBOT CHICKEN. And MAD MEN.
And for reasons I can't explain, my usual aversion to reality TV has mellowed a bit this summer. HELL'S KITCHEN, LAST COMIC STANDING, and ON THE LOT are now on the TiVo, which is really the best way to watch those shows: fast-forward through the boring stuff and head right for the meat. Don't get me wrong, there's precious little meat (ON THE LOT particularly so).
But it's not all TV for me. I'm still working through the Netflix backlog-- on back episodes of THE WIRE. Heh.
And you? What're you watching now, if anything?
Remember when summer TV used to suck? Time was I'd catch up on my overflowing Netflix queue in the hot days between spring finales and fall premieres, but no longer. Noooo. Stupid cable, with your ENTOURAGE and WEEDS. And THE CLOSER, RESCUE ME, and BURN NOTICE. And THE MINOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JACKIE WOODMAN and ROBOT CHICKEN. And MAD MEN.
And for reasons I can't explain, my usual aversion to reality TV has mellowed a bit this summer. HELL'S KITCHEN, LAST COMIC STANDING, and ON THE LOT are now on the TiVo, which is really the best way to watch those shows: fast-forward through the boring stuff and head right for the meat. Don't get me wrong, there's precious little meat (ON THE LOT particularly so).
But it's not all TV for me. I'm still working through the Netflix backlog-- on back episodes of THE WIRE. Heh.
And you? What're you watching now, if anything?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Is Whiskers Writing That Novel While You're at Work?
A (patient) cat in Germany has been given a digital camera collar by his owners, which documents his kitteh travels over the day, sort of like Justin TV for cats. Cool stuff.
Of course, if my cat had one of these it would all be shots of the corner of the couch, with occasional close-ups of her food bowl. Maybe an action shot of her yarfing up a hairball.
Of course, if my cat had one of these it would all be shots of the corner of the couch, with occasional close-ups of her food bowl. Maybe an action shot of her yarfing up a hairball.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Into the Room
It's been a good couple of weeks for the scribosphere. For myself, I just started as a staff writer on a new network drama scheduled for the fall season.
The EPs and the other writers have amazing track records and are all smart, friendly, creative, and funny, which makes for a dream room. I'm thrilled, to say the least. Also grateful. And lucky.
I won't be posting about it much -- as you may've noticed, I prefer to keep mum about my work, discretion being the better part of valor or whatevs -- but I will try to pull together a few thoughts about things that I found helpful in getting here from there. Be sure to check out the sidebar for far more seasoned voices than mine!
The EPs and the other writers have amazing track records and are all smart, friendly, creative, and funny, which makes for a dream room. I'm thrilled, to say the least. Also grateful. And lucky.
I won't be posting about it much -- as you may've noticed, I prefer to keep mum about my work, discretion being the better part of valor or whatevs -- but I will try to pull together a few thoughts about things that I found helpful in getting here from there. Be sure to check out the sidebar for far more seasoned voices than mine!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Another County Heard From
A terrific new blog about TV writing has launched, Lisa Klink's What It's Like. Loads of helpful, entertaining information from a working writer with a lot of experience. It's in my newsreader, and should be in yours as well.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Ziggurat Con
Gamer troops stationed in Iraq are throwing their own con:
When President Bush ordered troops to Iraq, he probably never imagined that he would be ultimately be responsible for what very well could be the very first D&D convention/game day ever held in a war zone. Ziggurat Con, being held June 9 from 1200 to 2100 hours at Camp Adder/Tallil Airbase, is open to all allied military personnel and civilian contractors in Iraq.Check out Gamegrene for the full story. There's even info on how to donate to the event.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Primetime Fall Schedule
Whew. The upfront dust is still settling, but The Futon Critic has the day-by-day on the fall TV lineup, as announced by the nets this week in New York. Ladies and gentlemen, start your TiVOs!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
NBC Pickup News
Yes, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS will be back next season! Also, some pilot pickup nooz: CHUCK, JOURNEYMAN, THE BIONIC WOMAN, and LIFE.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Panic Now, Avoid the Rush
The upfronts are next week, sealing the fate of new and returning shows alike. A few new links to check out:
Roundup of the pilot buzz so far from the Hollywood Reporter
Nifty upfront guide from the Futon Critic posse
Also from the Futon Critic, a speculative and in their own words "probably full of crap" buzz index on pilots in development
Place yer bets, ladies and gents!
Place yer bets, ladies and gents!
Friday, May 04, 2007
Clam Chowder
Jane Espenson has published a number of helpful posts on "clams," played-out jokes and phrases long past funny.
Penny Arcade offers one take on a common clam (click to see a larger version):
Penny Arcade offers one take on a common clam (click to see a larger version):
Thursday, May 03, 2007
And the Race Is On
Nikki Finke sums up the rumors, buzz, and speculation so far on the current crop of primetime pilots for fall.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Brave New World
Amusing sort-of-to-scale-map of online communities. Click to see more readable version:
Monday, April 30, 2007
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Daemon
Tip o' the hat to Zen of Design for finding this cool personality quiz for THE GOLDEN COMPASS.
Special props to the quizmakers for including a nifty feature where your friends rate how good a match your daemon is, which could lead to a new animal being chosen. Pelloneus was an Osprey when I posted this...
Special props to the quizmakers for including a nifty feature where your friends rate how good a match your daemon is, which could lead to a new animal being chosen. Pelloneus was an Osprey when I posted this...
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
TV Day Presented by the Writers Guild Foundation
A nifty Saturday seminar is coming in May, with some kickass panelists and sessions.
I'll be there. Who else?
BREAKING INTO THE BOX - TV DAY
Panelists (subject to availability): Peter Casey (Cheers, Frasier), Joe Cohen (CAA agent), Damon Lindelof (Crossing Jordan, Lost), Brannon Braga (Star Trek, Threshold), Jan Oxenberg (Chicago Hope, Cold Case), Jay Kogen (Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle), Chris Brancato (X-Files, Boomtown), Winnie Holzman (My So-Called Life, Once and Again), Robin Schiff (Party of Five, The Bad Girl's Guide), Bill Chais (Family Law, Shark) and Alexa Junge (Friends, The West Wing, Big Love) with many more to come.
WHERE: WGAw headquarters, 7000 West Third Street (at Fairfax ) Los Angeles , 90048.
WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 2007, 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM.
TICKETS AND SCHEDULE: http://www.wgfoundation.org/
$150, general public; $125, WGA members; and $110-full-time students with I.D.
A light breakfast, snacks, box lunch and an evening wine and cheese reception are included in the registration fee.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Panthers Win State!
Dear NBC,
Please renew FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.
Thank you.
(Missed an episode? Hell, the whole season? Catch them all online at NBC.com.)
Please renew FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.
Thank you.
(Missed an episode? Hell, the whole season? Catch them all online at NBC.com.)
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Death, Where Is Thy Sting? In Vanguard, Apparently
Damion over at Zen of Design has a thoughtful post up about death penalty design in MMOs.
Having started out playing Diku- and LPMUDs and losing a painfully hard-won level with each death, I come down firmly on Damion's side of the death debate.
City of Heroes/Villains and Guild Wars handle this the best of the current crop of games, in my opinion. Death (sorry, "defeat") in CoH costs you XP in the form of debt that you have to make up before you can make further progress toward your next level.
Guild Wars is better yet, docking your stats by a percentage that you can work off. You feel this change in subsequent battles, especially if you've racked up a lot of deaths and your health bar is half what it usually is, but you haven't been materially prevented from progressing in the game or enjoying it.
The above marks me as a casual player of MMOs, I realize. I just don't have time to play more than casually these days, but you know what? Even when I was playing hardcore, corpse runs were no fun. They were the anti-fun. They provided unnecessary friction to the play experience, and challenge and friction aren't the same.
Having started out playing Diku- and LPMUDs and losing a painfully hard-won level with each death, I come down firmly on Damion's side of the death debate.
City of Heroes/Villains and Guild Wars handle this the best of the current crop of games, in my opinion. Death (sorry, "defeat") in CoH costs you XP in the form of debt that you have to make up before you can make further progress toward your next level.
Guild Wars is better yet, docking your stats by a percentage that you can work off. You feel this change in subsequent battles, especially if you've racked up a lot of deaths and your health bar is half what it usually is, but you haven't been materially prevented from progressing in the game or enjoying it.
The above marks me as a casual player of MMOs, I realize. I just don't have time to play more than casually these days, but you know what? Even when I was playing hardcore, corpse runs were no fun. They were the anti-fun. They provided unnecessary friction to the play experience, and challenge and friction aren't the same.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Another 1st Down?
NBC has ordered six more scripts for FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, possibly an indicator that the show will be renewed. It may be too early to trot out the cheerleaders, but score this as good news.
MEDIUM got a six-script order as well, which might point to renewal but as THR hints also could suggest pre-strike stockpiling.
MEDIUM got a six-script order as well, which might point to renewal but as THR hints also could suggest pre-strike stockpiling.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Crunchy Development Goodness, Right To Your Inbox
The Futon Critic now lets you add their development updates as custom email alerts.
Who's getting cast? What's getting picked up? How many zillions of dollars was that POD? Look no further. Handy dandy!
Who's getting cast? What's getting picked up? How many zillions of dollars was that POD? Look no further. Handy dandy!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Did They Watch Their Own Movie?
I've read that the producers of 300 were "surprised" that the movie has been drawing in so many women.
300 is 85% glistening, jaw-droppingly cut manly men doing manly men things, and features a strong-willed queen (Gorgo).
The movie also has fans in the gay community, another "surprise" audience.
300 is 85% glistening, jaw-droppingly cut manly men doing manly men things, and features a strong-willed queen (Xerxes).
300 is 85% glistening, jaw-droppingly cut manly men doing manly men things, and features a strong-willed queen (Gorgo).
The movie also has fans in the gay community, another "surprise" audience.
300 is 85% glistening, jaw-droppingly cut manly men doing manly men things, and features a strong-willed queen (Xerxes).
Tonight We Dine in Heck
For the three of you who haven't seen this yet (I apparently was the fourth), here is 300, the PG version.
This... is... CAKE TOOOOOOWN!
This... is... CAKE TOOOOOOWN!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Writers Co-Op
From The Thinking Writer comes a tip to Variety's article on John Wells' fascinating, just-launched venture at Warner Bros. Participating screenwriters will forgo their upfront paychecks in favor of a cut of the gross, roles as producers, and writers' rights (writes?) such as ownership of the rewrite process and other production decisions.
Interesting experiment? Utopian folly? A sign of things to come?
If anyone can pull this off, it's Wells, co-founders Nick Kazan ("Reversal of Fortune") and Tom Schulman ("Dead Poets Society"), and their posse.
Check out this who's who: Ron Bass ("Rain Man"), Henry Bean ("Internal Affairs"), David Benioff ("Troy"), Scott Frank ("Out of Sight"), Robert Nelson Jacobs ("Chocolat"), Callie Khouri ("Thelma & Louise"), Richard LaGravanese ("The Fisher King"), Phil Alden Robinson ("Field of Dreams"), Bruce Joel Rubin ("Ghost"), Stephen Schiff ("The Deep End of the Ocean"), Ed Solomon ("Men in Black"), Dana Stevens ("For Love of the Game"), Robin Swicord ("Memoirs of a Geisha"), Michael Tolkin ("The Player"), Rafael Yglesias ("Fearless"), and the writing team of Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel ("City Slickers").
Excelsior, folks!
Interesting experiment? Utopian folly? A sign of things to come?
If anyone can pull this off, it's Wells, co-founders Nick Kazan ("Reversal of Fortune") and Tom Schulman ("Dead Poets Society"), and their posse.
Check out this who's who: Ron Bass ("Rain Man"), Henry Bean ("Internal Affairs"), David Benioff ("Troy"), Scott Frank ("Out of Sight"), Robert Nelson Jacobs ("Chocolat"), Callie Khouri ("Thelma & Louise"), Richard LaGravanese ("The Fisher King"), Phil Alden Robinson ("Field of Dreams"), Bruce Joel Rubin ("Ghost"), Stephen Schiff ("The Deep End of the Ocean"), Ed Solomon ("Men in Black"), Dana Stevens ("For Love of the Game"), Robin Swicord ("Memoirs of a Geisha"), Michael Tolkin ("The Player"), Rafael Yglesias ("Fearless"), and the writing team of Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel ("City Slickers").
Excelsior, folks!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Off to GDC
I'm up in San Francisco for the rest of the week for the Game Developers Conference, to catch such sessions as the panel Ted Elliott is headlining on writing across multiple platforms.
Happy gaming and writing, all!
Happy gaming and writing, all!
Monday, March 05, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Complications Ensue Feed Down?
Is anyone else having trouble with the feed to Complications Ensue? All of a sudden my newsreader's latest post is from 2/2, and Alex has clearly been posting since then.
Weirder yet, I'm pretty sure some posts since 2/2 have appeared in the reader, but are no longer there...
Weirder yet, I'm pretty sure some posts since 2/2 have appeared in the reader, but are no longer there...
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
WGA Award Winners
The writers of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, THE DEPARTED, THE OFFICE, THE SOPRANOS, and UGLY BETTY took home the gold tonight, in the form of the book-birdy-pen thing that is the Writers Guild Award statuette.
Full list of winners here.
Full list of winners here.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
SLINGS & ARROWS Season the Third
Sound hautboys! The Canadian series SLINGS & ARROWS returns to the Sundance Channel starting Sunday, February 18, at 8pm. On the menu for our dysfunctional troupers: KING LEAR.
Exeunt, pursued by a bear, to set TiVos.
Exeunt, pursued by a bear, to set TiVos.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Variety Pilot Watch
What will you be watching on TV next year? Check out the current crop of pilots for a peek into the future.
"Zombie dramedy"?
I am so there.
"Zombie dramedy"?
I am so there.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Sam & Jim Got Staffed!
If you've been following the adventures of writers Sam and Jim as they go to Hollywood, you'll be thrilled to know that they're on staff now at THE DEAD ZONE.
Their first podcast since starting work there is up now, and provides an invaluable peek at a newbie TV writer's first experiences inside The Room.
Their first podcast since starting work there is up now, and provides an invaluable peek at a newbie TV writer's first experiences inside The Room.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
ROME Vincit Omnes
Or vincit most, anyway.
I started watching season 1 of ROME on DVD a little while ago, planning to take in just an episode or two as tonal research for a new project I've started.
Well, an episode or two of this fantastic show wasn't enough, and I slurped down that first season in time for the season 2 opener last week.
It's amazing, Shakespearean stuff, as Alex Epstein has commented on a few times.
I particularly love how the writers imbue the characters with a principal trait that makes them who they are, and, as in Will's work, can be their downfall (some SPOILERS follow...).
For Luscious-- sorry, Lucius, it's his honor. It resides like a hard, battle-tested stone at his very center, and wins him respect and position in Rome but also costs him his wife and family. Not to mention the chance to knock sandals with Cleopatra.
For Titus, it's his easy skill with violence. It makes him a great soldier, but also keeps him, fatally, from finding his way in peacetime. It allows him to fall into seamy underworld assassinations and casual, unthinking murder.
For Caesar, of course, it's his pride. For Atia, I think it's her fear of being alone, which comes out as political and social ambition and her fierce if often twisted love for her children.
The treatment of Marc Antony's speech was brilliant, as Jane Espenson notes, and I also loved the "Et tu, Brute?" moment during the assassination. You're waiting for Caesar to say "And you, Brutus?" or something like it, and-- he doesn't. He opens his mouth, and Brutus, tormented, relates later that he thought he heard Caesar say something, but really the accusation was only in the dying man's eyes and face.
I'm very sorry that this is the last season for ROME, but apparently according to interviews that'll allow for some balls-out storycraft. Not that the show's pulled any punches (or gladii) so far.
Thirteeeeeen!
Non sequitur postscript from The Boyfriend, who's watching BLOODRAYNE on TV as I write this: "Uwe Boll must be stopped."
I started watching season 1 of ROME on DVD a little while ago, planning to take in just an episode or two as tonal research for a new project I've started.
Well, an episode or two of this fantastic show wasn't enough, and I slurped down that first season in time for the season 2 opener last week.
It's amazing, Shakespearean stuff, as Alex Epstein has commented on a few times.
I particularly love how the writers imbue the characters with a principal trait that makes them who they are, and, as in Will's work, can be their downfall (some SPOILERS follow...).
For Luscious-- sorry, Lucius, it's his honor. It resides like a hard, battle-tested stone at his very center, and wins him respect and position in Rome but also costs him his wife and family. Not to mention the chance to knock sandals with Cleopatra.
For Titus, it's his easy skill with violence. It makes him a great soldier, but also keeps him, fatally, from finding his way in peacetime. It allows him to fall into seamy underworld assassinations and casual, unthinking murder.
For Caesar, of course, it's his pride. For Atia, I think it's her fear of being alone, which comes out as political and social ambition and her fierce if often twisted love for her children.
The treatment of Marc Antony's speech was brilliant, as Jane Espenson notes, and I also loved the "Et tu, Brute?" moment during the assassination. You're waiting for Caesar to say "And you, Brutus?" or something like it, and-- he doesn't. He opens his mouth, and Brutus, tormented, relates later that he thought he heard Caesar say something, but really the accusation was only in the dying man's eyes and face.
I'm very sorry that this is the last season for ROME, but apparently according to interviews that'll allow for some balls-out storycraft. Not that the show's pulled any punches (or gladii) so far.
Thirteeeeeen!
Non sequitur postscript from The Boyfriend, who's watching BLOODRAYNE on TV as I write this: "Uwe Boll must be stopped."
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
HEROES Picked Up
Excelsior! THE OFFICE and MY NAME IS EARL were also on NBC's shopping list.
In other news, a scuba-diving cat. Seriously.
In other news, a scuba-diving cat. Seriously.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
The Name Game
You want to do everything possible to make your characters memorable and compelling to readers and audiences, so why cram your narrative worlds with Johns and Susans?
Of course, you can go too far with this. I remember seeing a Julianne Moore movie in which her name was Telly.
Telly? Isn't that a muppet?
A device I often use is to take some key aspect of the character or their place in the story and let that suggest the name. Hell, any trick that's good enough for Dickens, the Restoration dramatists, and the makers of Max Payne is good enough for me.
Some examples from my scripts:
(Caveat: No disparagement meant for people who have these names but not these characteristics!)
Val, short for Valerie. Horror heroine. Valiant, valkyrie.
Bridget. A two-fer, since this character is inflexible (rigid, stringent) and sexually cold (frigid).
Lance. Easygoing guy, loose where Bridget is not. Also a little dreamy, not very grounded in real life.
Fay. Seductive world traveler. More dangerous than she first appears, like faerie, Morgan Le Fay.
Roger. A scoundrelly, womanizing Englishman. A play on the British slang meaning of the word.
Galen. A twist on Gawain, the knight. The character is honorable, noble, and plays fantasy games.
Neva. A similar twist on Guenevere.
Abigail. Buttoned-up, prim, religious.
Reyna. Powerful CEO. Reign, and reine is French for queen.
Clayton. A man of substance, figuratively and literally, but also weak, feet of clay.
This works with surnames and full names as well: I named a character Tim Pritchard because that suggested he was a little untrustworthy and kind of a dick, which he was. And Palmer Sykes just sounds like a child molester, doesn't he?
Other techniques...
Many BATTLESTAR GALACTICA characters have a regular-sounding name spiced with something more fantastical, often pulled from ancient history or mythology. Karl Agathon, Kara Thrace, Sharon Valerii, Gaius Baltar. A neat way to suggest sci fi without all those damn apostrophes that apparently we'll all be using in the future. Qapla'!
And for horror stories or thrillers, I'm reminded of the Bill Cosby routine where you should name your kid something that yells well down the block, that is, doesn't end in a consonant. Compare the bellowing-into-the-haunted-basement possibilities of "FRANK!" and "BILLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
What are your own methods for naming?
Of course, you can go too far with this. I remember seeing a Julianne Moore movie in which her name was Telly.
Telly? Isn't that a muppet?
A device I often use is to take some key aspect of the character or their place in the story and let that suggest the name. Hell, any trick that's good enough for Dickens, the Restoration dramatists, and the makers of Max Payne is good enough for me.
Some examples from my scripts:
(Caveat: No disparagement meant for people who have these names but not these characteristics!)
Val, short for Valerie. Horror heroine. Valiant, valkyrie.
Bridget. A two-fer, since this character is inflexible (rigid, stringent) and sexually cold (frigid).
Lance. Easygoing guy, loose where Bridget is not. Also a little dreamy, not very grounded in real life.
Fay. Seductive world traveler. More dangerous than she first appears, like faerie, Morgan Le Fay.
Roger. A scoundrelly, womanizing Englishman. A play on the British slang meaning of the word.
Galen. A twist on Gawain, the knight. The character is honorable, noble, and plays fantasy games.
Neva. A similar twist on Guenevere.
Abigail. Buttoned-up, prim, religious.
Reyna. Powerful CEO. Reign, and reine is French for queen.
Clayton. A man of substance, figuratively and literally, but also weak, feet of clay.
This works with surnames and full names as well: I named a character Tim Pritchard because that suggested he was a little untrustworthy and kind of a dick, which he was. And Palmer Sykes just sounds like a child molester, doesn't he?
Other techniques...
Many BATTLESTAR GALACTICA characters have a regular-sounding name spiced with something more fantastical, often pulled from ancient history or mythology. Karl Agathon, Kara Thrace, Sharon Valerii, Gaius Baltar. A neat way to suggest sci fi without all those damn apostrophes that apparently we'll all be using in the future. Qapla'!
And for horror stories or thrillers, I'm reminded of the Bill Cosby routine where you should name your kid something that yells well down the block, that is, doesn't end in a consonant. Compare the bellowing-into-the-haunted-basement possibilities of "FRANK!" and "BILLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
What are your own methods for naming?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Appendages!
Mac-vs.-PC style "ad" for There and Second Life.
The comparison to Macs and PCs, though superficial, works fairly well. The two worlds do a lot of the same stuff -- user-generated assets and events, virtual currencies -- but There is prettier, less flexible and customizable, and has less market share. Second Life offers more customization, is more popular, and erm, is ugly. In a number of senses of the word. ;)
The comparison to Macs and PCs, though superficial, works fairly well. The two worlds do a lot of the same stuff -- user-generated assets and events, virtual currencies -- but There is prettier, less flexible and customizable, and has less market share. Second Life offers more customization, is more popular, and erm, is ugly. In a number of senses of the word. ;)
Monday, December 18, 2006
Holiday Hiatus
The fall finales have come and gone. The TiVo's to-do list is blissfully empty. I loves me some TV, but I'm as ready for a break as anyone, not leastly because I have a lot of writing to do.
I'm signing off here until the New Year. Enjoy some holiday flicks, why dontcha? Here's a list to get you started, reprinted from last year.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE - Darker and wittier than you remember.
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS - WARNING! VERY IMPORTANT!! I mean the ANIMATED version, with charming Chuck Jones art and plummy voice work by Boris Karloff. Not the Jim Carrey redundancy, for the love of Fah who for-aze.
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY - Not strictly speaking a Christmas movie, but many of the story's key moments happen at the holidays. The season of groveling, revelatory Mallomars.
MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL - I'm serious. Michael Caine gives excellent deadpan as Scrooge in the face of adorableness (Fozziwig!) and catchy songs, but the movie gets scary and sad right when it's supposed to. All that and mini Miss Piggies. Get over yourself and rent it.
THE THIN MAN - Another not-quite-Christmas movie, but who cares when you have William Powell shooting ornaments off the tree with a BB gun while Myrna Loy watches, amused, in a new fur coat? In a movie that glimmers with champagne dialogue, this wordless moment is a standout.
THE GODFATHER - Okay, okay, I'll stop cheating, but the Godfather saga is framed around moments rich with ritual and family significance: weddings, baptisms, the holidays. I love Al Pacino's tense and terrifying vigil at the creepy, Christmas-quiet hospital.
A CHRISTMAS STORY - Some time ago I came across a rant against this movie, which I just don't get. So it's faux nostalgic. Nostalgia is false almost by definition. A CHRISTMAS STORY is funny, sweet, just arch enough, and yes, authentic, capturing the tribulations and joy of being a kid at yuletide. Plus Peter Billingsley now is poker buddies with Vince Vaughn, so there's that.
BAD SANTA - Christmastime sucks for a lot of people. BAD SANTA is bleak and funny and has heart without dipping into sentimentality. Co-stars Lauren Graham as a Santa fetishist. Oh, Lorelai!
Happy Holidays!
I'm signing off here until the New Year. Enjoy some holiday flicks, why dontcha? Here's a list to get you started, reprinted from last year.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE - Darker and wittier than you remember.
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS - WARNING! VERY IMPORTANT!! I mean the ANIMATED version, with charming Chuck Jones art and plummy voice work by Boris Karloff. Not the Jim Carrey redundancy, for the love of Fah who for-aze.
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY - Not strictly speaking a Christmas movie, but many of the story's key moments happen at the holidays. The season of groveling, revelatory Mallomars.
MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL - I'm serious. Michael Caine gives excellent deadpan as Scrooge in the face of adorableness (Fozziwig!) and catchy songs, but the movie gets scary and sad right when it's supposed to. All that and mini Miss Piggies. Get over yourself and rent it.
THE THIN MAN - Another not-quite-Christmas movie, but who cares when you have William Powell shooting ornaments off the tree with a BB gun while Myrna Loy watches, amused, in a new fur coat? In a movie that glimmers with champagne dialogue, this wordless moment is a standout.
THE GODFATHER - Okay, okay, I'll stop cheating, but the Godfather saga is framed around moments rich with ritual and family significance: weddings, baptisms, the holidays. I love Al Pacino's tense and terrifying vigil at the creepy, Christmas-quiet hospital.
A CHRISTMAS STORY - Some time ago I came across a rant against this movie, which I just don't get. So it's faux nostalgic. Nostalgia is false almost by definition. A CHRISTMAS STORY is funny, sweet, just arch enough, and yes, authentic, capturing the tribulations and joy of being a kid at yuletide. Plus Peter Billingsley now is poker buddies with Vince Vaughn, so there's that.
BAD SANTA - Christmastime sucks for a lot of people. BAD SANTA is bleak and funny and has heart without dipping into sentimentality. Co-stars Lauren Graham as a Santa fetishist. Oh, Lorelai!
Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
WGA Television Nominations
Awards season is truly in full swing. Here're more TV noms, this time from the Writers Guild of America.
DRAMATIC SERIES
24
DEADWOOD
GREY'S ANATOMY
LOST
THE SOPRANOS
Excellent list overall, but special huzzahs for hoopleheads, laudanum addicts, jaw-clenching sheriffs, and c**ksuckers!
COMEDY SERIES
30 ROCK
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
ENTOURAGE
THE OFFICE
I watch some of these.
NEW SERIES
30 ROCK
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
HEROES
STUDIO 60
UGLY BETTY
Yowza, tough call. And what's up with the dueling shows about sketch comedy shows?
EPISODIC DRAMA - single episode
"Election Day, Part II" (THE WEST WING), Written by Eli Attie & John Wells
"Occupation/Precipice" (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA), Written by Ronald D. Moore
"Two for the Road" (LOST), Written by Elizabeth Sarnoff & Christina M. Kim
"The End of the Whole Mess" (NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES: FROM THE STORIES OF STEPHEN KING), Teleplay by Lawrence D. Cohen, Based on the short story by Stephen King
"Pilot" (STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP), Written by Aaron Sorkin
"Pilot" (BIG LOVE), Witten by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer
Godsdammit, BSG is finally on one of these awards lists. About. Frakkin'. Time. The show won a Peabody Award, people!
EPISODIC COMEDY - single episode
"It Takes Two" (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES), Written by Kevin Murphy & Jenna Bans
"Don’t Look At Me" (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES), Written by Josh Senter
"Bomb Shelter" (MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE), Written by Rob Ulin
"Casino Night" (THE OFFICE), Written by Steve Carell
"The Coup" (THE OFFICE), Written by Paul Lieberstein
"Jump for Joy" (MY NAME IS EARL), Written by Vali Chandrasekaran
I'm not sure I watched any of these.
So there you have it. But again, no THE WIRE! Argh.
DRAMATIC SERIES
Excellent list overall, but special huzzahs for hoopleheads, laudanum addicts, jaw-clenching sheriffs, and c**ksuckers!
COMEDY SERIES
I watch some of these.
NEW SERIES
Yowza, tough call. And what's up with the dueling shows about sketch comedy shows?
EPISODIC DRAMA - single episode
Godsdammit, BSG is finally on one of these awards lists. About. Frakkin'. Time. The show won a Peabody Award, people!
EPISODIC COMEDY - single episode
I'm not sure I watched any of these.
So there you have it. But again, no THE WIRE! Argh.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Golden Globe Nominations
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has spoken! The key TV noms:
BEST TELEVISION SERIES DRAMA
24 (FOX) Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television i.a.w. Real Time Prods.
BIG LOVE (HBO)Anima Sola and Playtone Prods. i.a.w. HBO Entertainment
GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)Touchstone Television
HEROES (NBC)NBC Universal Television Studios i.a.w. Tailwind Prods.
LOST (ABC)Touchstone Television
Nice list! Yay, freshman HEROES, for making the cut.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)Touchstone Television
ENTOURAGE (HBO)Leverage and Closest to the Hole Prods. i.a.w. HBO Entertainment
THE OFFICE (NBC)Deedle Dee Prods. with Reveille i.a.w. NBC Universal Television Studio
UGLY BETTY (ABC)Touchstone Television
WEEDS (SHOWTIME)Showtime i.a.w. Lionsgate Television and Tilted Prods., Inc.
No weak ones here either. Expect this category to get more competitive as more light dramas like DESEPERATE HOUSEWIVES, WEEDS, and UGLY BETTY enter the grid. Btw, just started watching WEEDS this season -- love it.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
PATRICIA ARQUETTE — MEDIUM
EDIE FALCO — THE SOPRANOS
EVANGELINE LILLY — LOST
ELLEN POMPEO — GREY'S ANATOMY
KYRA SEDGWICK — THE CLOSER
No surprises here. I'm a fan of all these shows; no idea how I'd vote if I had to.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
PATRICK DEMPSEY — GREY'S ANATOMY
MICHAEL C. HALL — DEXTER
HUGH LAURIE — HOUSE
BILL PAXTON — BIG LOVE
KIEFER SUTHERLAND — 24
Oof, did James Gandolfini lose his spot to Michael C. Hall (love his creepy-cool-adorable performance on DEXTER) or Bill Paxton? THE SOPRANOS is a masterwork, but I'm all for new blood. So to speak, in DEXTER's case.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES -COMEDY OR MUSICAL
MARCIA CROSS — DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
AMERICA FERRERA — UGLY BETTY
FELICITY HUFFMAN — DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS — THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
MARY-LOUISE PARKER — WEEDS
Go, America, playing in the big leagues! Julia Louis-Dreyfus deserves much credit for showing that conventional 3-camera sitcoms can still be funny, but I like Mary-Louise Parker's hilarious, spirited, and tender "Lacey LaPlante" FTW.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
ALEC BALDWIN — 30 ROCK
ZACH BRAFF — SCRUBS
STEVE CARRELL — THE OFFICE
JASON LEE — MY NAME IS EARL
TONY SHALHOUB — MONK
Alec steals every scene of 30 ROCK that he's in, and no jury in the world would convinct him.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
EMILY BLUNT — GIDEON'S DAUGHTER
TONI COLLETTE — TSUNAMI, THE AFTERMATH
KATHERINE HEIGL — GREY'S ANATOMY
SARAH PAULSON — STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
ELIZABETH PERKINS — WEEDS
The supporting actor categories are an utter comparing-apples-to-bicycles situation, no?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
THOMAS HADEN CHURCH — BROKEN TRAIL
JEREMY IRONS — ELIZABETH I
JUSTIN KIRK — WEEDS
MASI OKA — HEROES
JEREMY PIVEN — ENTOURAGE
More apples and bicycles. How do you choose between obnoxious superagent Ari Gold and the Earl of frakkin' Leicester? Still, loving that Masi Oka is in there.
Any misfires, according to you? Who's missing that should be on here? THE WIRE and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA are two, for me. Anyone on who shouldn't be?
BEST TELEVISION SERIES DRAMA
Nice list! Yay, freshman HEROES, for making the cut.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
No weak ones here either. Expect this category to get more competitive as more light dramas like DESEPERATE HOUSEWIVES, WEEDS, and UGLY BETTY enter the grid. Btw, just started watching WEEDS this season -- love it.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
No surprises here. I'm a fan of all these shows; no idea how I'd vote if I had to.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Oof, did James Gandolfini lose his spot to Michael C. Hall (love his creepy-cool-adorable performance on DEXTER) or Bill Paxton? THE SOPRANOS is a masterwork, but I'm all for new blood. So to speak, in DEXTER's case.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES -COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Go, America, playing in the big leagues! Julia Louis-Dreyfus deserves much credit for showing that conventional 3-camera sitcoms can still be funny, but I like Mary-Louise Parker's hilarious, spirited, and tender "Lacey LaPlante" FTW.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec steals every scene of 30 ROCK that he's in, and no jury in the world would convinct him.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
The supporting actor categories are an utter comparing-apples-to-bicycles situation, no?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
More apples and bicycles. How do you choose between obnoxious superagent Ari Gold and the Earl of frakkin' Leicester? Still, loving that Masi Oka is in there.
Any misfires, according to you? Who's missing that should be on here? THE WIRE and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA are two, for me. Anyone on who shouldn't be?
Sunday, December 03, 2006
(Almost) A Massive Waste of Time
On a recent flight I read the first issue of Massive, the new magazine about MMOGs. The poor thing is hovering perilously close to fishwrap quality.
Massive needs help. Chiefly, Massive needs a firm editorial hand:
Sure, it's interesting to read a blurb about the gender split of MMOG players-- but the pie chart accompanying the text actually shows the player base's age breakdown by gender.
A description of ArenaNet's new Nightfall expansion for Guild Wars both spells the company's name wrong and misidentifies the two new character classes as "factions."
The colorful (and memorable) phrase "800 lb. gorilla" is used twice in the magazine. Guess I should be happy it wasn't used twice in the same article.
Nitpicky? Maybe, but it's too bad that Massive shows so little of the editorial zing and professional polish of its parent mag Computer Games.
Other problems are more glaring. One huge section lists mini-descriptions of pretty much every MMOG out there, including some nifty-sounding ones I hadn't heard of before (Ooh!) but fails to provide URLs where you could, y'know, go learn about them or play them (D'oh!).
The layout and graphics are solid, but one funny article about chatspeak suffers from a printing error, with half the untranslated lines of text missing.
The best content of the magazine apart from the teasing URL-free catalog of current games is the selection of editorials from many of the MMOGinati, including Raph Koster, Nick Yee, Richard Garriott, and Richard Bartle (recapping his keynote from the 2005 Austin Game Conference).
But even Raph notes that most of what can be written about MMOGs has been (albeit not necessarily in a dead-tree periodical), and the most interesting topics aren't quite ready to be talked about yet. Also, Massive may've shot their wad too soon given the sheer number of editorials. At this rate they'll burn through all the top tier developers and researchers in, oh, three issues.
And I'm not sure what's served by peppering the magazine with irrelevant newsbits about knitting guilds and contested gold in the mountains of Chile.
I may pick up the second issue, if there is one -- MMOG magazines have launched and failed before -- but here's hoping the folks behind Massive can regroup, with a l33t editor at the helm FTW.
Massive needs help. Chiefly, Massive needs a firm editorial hand:
Nitpicky? Maybe, but it's too bad that Massive shows so little of the editorial zing and professional polish of its parent mag Computer Games.
Other problems are more glaring. One huge section lists mini-descriptions of pretty much every MMOG out there, including some nifty-sounding ones I hadn't heard of before (Ooh!) but fails to provide URLs where you could, y'know, go learn about them or play them (D'oh!).
The layout and graphics are solid, but one funny article about chatspeak suffers from a printing error, with half the untranslated lines of text missing.
The best content of the magazine apart from the teasing URL-free catalog of current games is the selection of editorials from many of the MMOGinati, including Raph Koster, Nick Yee, Richard Garriott, and Richard Bartle (recapping his keynote from the 2005 Austin Game Conference).
But even Raph notes that most of what can be written about MMOGs has been (albeit not necessarily in a dead-tree periodical), and the most interesting topics aren't quite ready to be talked about yet. Also, Massive may've shot their wad too soon given the sheer number of editorials. At this rate they'll burn through all the top tier developers and researchers in, oh, three issues.
And I'm not sure what's served by peppering the magazine with irrelevant newsbits about knitting guilds and contested gold in the mountains of Chile.
I may pick up the second issue, if there is one -- MMOG magazines have launched and failed before -- but here's hoping the folks behind Massive can regroup, with a l33t editor at the helm FTW.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Robert Altman
One of America's great directors has passed away. Just a few films from his remarkable career:
MASH
GOSFORD PARK
SHORT CUTS
THE PLAYER
NASHVILLE
MCCABE & MRS. MILLER
I also really enjoyed his last film, the gently elegaic A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION.
They can't all be gems -- the same man brought us POPEYE and PRET-A-PORTER, after all -- but Altman, presented with an Honorary Academy Award just this past year, long deserved a real Oscar. Maybe even more than one.
At least we have his body of work and legacy. THE PLAYER is pretty much the definitive cinematic depiction of modern Hollywood. Without it, would there be an ENTOURAGE? Without MCCABE & MRS. MILLER, we wouldn't have DEADWOOD; without MASH, we wouldn't have... well, MASH.
And every ensemble, multi-threaded narrative -- especially with characters talking over each other as real people do -- tends to be labeled "Altmanesque." You gotta be pretty special to get turned into an adjective.
MASH
GOSFORD PARK
SHORT CUTS
THE PLAYER
NASHVILLE
MCCABE & MRS. MILLER
I also really enjoyed his last film, the gently elegaic A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION.
They can't all be gems -- the same man brought us POPEYE and PRET-A-PORTER, after all -- but Altman, presented with an Honorary Academy Award just this past year, long deserved a real Oscar. Maybe even more than one.
At least we have his body of work and legacy. THE PLAYER is pretty much the definitive cinematic depiction of modern Hollywood. Without it, would there be an ENTOURAGE? Without MCCABE & MRS. MILLER, we wouldn't have DEADWOOD; without MASH, we wouldn't have... well, MASH.
And every ensemble, multi-threaded narrative -- especially with characters talking over each other as real people do -- tends to be labeled "Altmanesque." You gotta be pretty special to get turned into an adjective.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Keeping the LIGHTS On
More welcome pickup news: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS got their full-season order.
If you're not watching this show, please start. Doesn't matter if you're not into football. This show is about football in the way that ROCKY is about boxing, or BULL DURHAM is about baseball: as catalyst and metaphor as much as the actual sport.
The storytelling is so deft that something as theoretically low-key as a high school football game -- hell, a single play in a high school football game -- carries emotional stakes as big as saving the world.
Filmed almost documentary-style, LIGHTS foregrounds details that give depth and authenticity to the stories it tells. Characters talk over each other. Fancy meals are eaten at Applebee's. The camera rests briefly on a Bible then moves to its owner, a player studying his playbook-- his second Bible. The coach goes to visit his quarterback, and over their conversation we see the boy's grandmother hurrying to put some cake on a plate for their guest. That is 100% South, folks.
All that and murderball, with real quad rugby players.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS is something special. Watch it and let NBC know they made a good call, y'hear?
If you're not watching this show, please start. Doesn't matter if you're not into football. This show is about football in the way that ROCKY is about boxing, or BULL DURHAM is about baseball: as catalyst and metaphor as much as the actual sport.
The storytelling is so deft that something as theoretically low-key as a high school football game -- hell, a single play in a high school football game -- carries emotional stakes as big as saving the world.
Filmed almost documentary-style, LIGHTS foregrounds details that give depth and authenticity to the stories it tells. Characters talk over each other. Fancy meals are eaten at Applebee's. The camera rests briefly on a Bible then moves to its owner, a player studying his playbook-- his second Bible. The coach goes to visit his quarterback, and over their conversation we see the boy's grandmother hurrying to put some cake on a plate for their guest. That is 100% South, folks.
All that and murderball, with real quad rugby players.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS is something special. Watch it and let NBC know they made a good call, y'hear?
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
It's Raining MEN
DEXTER is one of my favorite shows right now. HEROES, another fave, features humor and heroics but also had a teenager waking up to her flayed-open, autopsied chest. I've seen every episode of both CSI (Classic) and COLD CASE, with its period soundtracks to all manner of grisly deaths.
I like dark.
Nonetheless, my soft nougaty center is charmed by MEN IN TREES, so I was glad to hear that the show just got its back 9 order and a shift to the golden 10pm Thursday spot behind GREY'S ANATOMY.
MEN IN TREES is like a chick lit version of NORTHERN EXPOSURE. The writing is clever (the creator is a SEX AND THE CITY alum), the characters fun, the stories sweet and relatable.
Here's hoping it does well behind the GREY'S powerhouse, because although I loves me some shadowy stuff, we need more hourlong dramas in which no one dies.
I like dark.
Nonetheless, my soft nougaty center is charmed by MEN IN TREES, so I was glad to hear that the show just got its back 9 order and a shift to the golden 10pm Thursday spot behind GREY'S ANATOMY.
MEN IN TREES is like a chick lit version of NORTHERN EXPOSURE. The writing is clever (the creator is a SEX AND THE CITY alum), the characters fun, the stories sweet and relatable.
Here's hoping it does well behind the GREY'S powerhouse, because although I loves me some shadowy stuff, we need more hourlong dramas in which no one dies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)