AN OPEN LETTER TO JOSS WHEDON & JUSTINE BATEMAN

Today on UnitedHollywood.com, Justine Bateman and Joss Whedon had some interesting things to say about the DGA deal and it's impact on our strike.  (And no, this wasn't a joint statement).

You can read their full comments at 

http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2008/01/wga-begins-back-channel-discussion-with.html

The Cliff's Notes of their comments was that Justine saw this deal as the beginning of the end of all life on Earth and Joss advised striking writers to, "...act as if the strike is never going to end..."

Here's my response:

Joss & Justine:

 

I think you guys are great, creative and talented people and both have provided me with a great deal of entertainment over the years.  Additionally, I appreciate your passion for a fair deal.

 

But you may be just a smidge out of touch.

 

Joss: “…act as if the strike is NEVER going to end?”  Seriously?  Dude…the Buffy Money Train never stops by my place so – while I’d love to strike forever – it’s just not a luxury I have…and I don’t think I’m the only one.  I mean no disrespect and believe you deserve every luxury that you’ve been afforded from creating your unique and exceptional body of work.  However…don’t expect me to high five you when you tell me that I have to “…act as if the strike is NEVER going to end…” because some of us out here have zero sources of income during the strike. 

 

Justine: I would hate for anyone’s residual check to be reduced by 97%.  That sucks…it really completely sucks.  But what about the young writers who don’t have the luxury of having shows that have aired (and/or have been re-aired) and/or put their kids in pre-school by doing script re-writes and/or are making NO MONEY WHATSOEVER from residuals during the strike?  What about those guys?  Are they supposed to weather a storm, which could last for a very long time and could potentially send them packing out of town so that your residuals from Family Ties are intact?  A long strike that waits for a deal that we might never get will end the careers of a lot of writers who have fought hard to get to a place where they can finally give up the day jobs and do what they love to do.

 

Don’t get me wrong…I want a good deal…there are improvements that can and should be made on the DGA deal, but…please, please…can we all just stay cool and not start talking about strikes with no exit strategies and placing the word “deal” in parenthesis.

Struck In The Middle With You

Why should you read another struck writer's blog?

Honestly, you shouldn't.  It's a waste of your time.  There's way more serious shit going on in the world.

For instance...

You guys hear we're picking a new president this year?  For reals...get on that...

Economy.  It's fucked three ways to Sunday and shows no signs of becoming un-fucked.

Your house.  Remember when it was worth a lot?  It's not anymore.  Condolences.  Maybe you should apologize to all the renters you were condescending to.

Iraq.  Afghanistan.  How's about that 2019 exit date?  Pretty sweet huh?

And about your kids...they're sexually active.  Or on drugs.  Choose your poison.

So...you're still here.  

That makes you like me.  The kind of person that checks Nikki Finke's blog 40 times an hour, hoping that there's an end in sight to this fucking strike.  You'll read whatever anyone's saying about the strike and you're probably thinking (right now), "Hey, why don't I have a blog dedicated to complaining about how miserable this Godforsaken strike is?"

For you...welcome. 

I just need to vent occasionally and - bless her heart - my wife doesn't want to hear anymore.  Most of the time I will be calling out the nutty extremists on both sides of the strike that - for some sick, sick reason - don't want this fucker to end.

Thanks for listening.