Production workers urge end to strike

[Omaha Steve]

Source: LA Times

By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Hair and makeup artists, set decorators, grips, prop specialists, and hundreds of others who work in television and film production marched through the heart of Hollywood on Sunday morning urging an end to the five-week-old writers strike.

Their mission: to draw attention to the predicament of the thousands of people who work in television and film, and the businesses that serve them. They are not on strike but fear their livelihoods are at risk anyway.

"We are here today to remind the leadership of those locked in this struggle that real people, real men and women and their families are being damaged," said rally organizer Chris Griffin to the crowd and media assembled at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. "Each day this strike is prolonged, our futures become more precarious."


Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times
Hundreds of industry professionals took to the streets in hopes of bringing an end to a strike that could harm their livelihoods.


Although these so-called "below-the-line" workers are not part of the negotiations, most are out of work until the strike is over and productions begin again. Many are starting to compete for work in film and reality television, which are still in production, unlike most scripted television.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rally10dec10,0,6402907.story?coll=la-home-center

[jayfish]

1. Sorry, But Writers Are...

"real people, real men and women and families" and studios shouldn't sell the fruits of their labor without compensating them accordingly. It's reverse piracy.

Jay

[bitchkitty]

2. BINGO!

I've read some scathing comments on the writers on the various show boards, but something people don't seem to realize - the writers were the ones who created those wonderful television shows in the first place! I am grateful to the writers of my favorite shows - I want them to have their fair slice of the pie!