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.