Unless you're a writer who's been living under a rock, you already know that the WGA is striking.If you're a normal person (living under a rock or not), you'll probably never know that the WGA is striking, because apparently the mainstream press doesn't think the story is sexy enough to make much of a deal about it.
Check out this video or this WGA document for a simple explanation of the main issue.
As a non-member who doesn't have any scripts ready to go out, I won't be affected for the time being. But that doesn't mean that I might not be affected in the future. What the guild is fighting for is a writer's fair share in a market that is changing and evolving to include streaming video, downloadable video, and other video delivery technologies that are drastically lowering the distribution costs, thereby raising profits. There is plenty of room for writers to participate in increased profits. In fact, a writer's residual payments are quite often their primary bread-and-butter, paying their mortgages and health insurance and supporting their families when between writing gigs.
While I'm geographically far away from being able to participate in the picket lines, I'd just like to voice my support and solidarity for the pro writers who are hit by this strike.
If I were there, I'd stop by, carry a sign and buy you all coffee and snacks.
