Comments on: Strike!

by: R. Maheras

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:16:43 +0000

Come contract time, no union should strike over an issue (or issues) unless it has some real leverage, and its members are prepared to stick it out for the long haul. This is particularly true if it is facing a management body that is stubborn and hard core.

I’ve seen a union get a decent initial offer, vote to strike anyway, then, a few months later, when the pain of reduced income takes its toll, vote to take the original offer. What’s the point in that?

The writers seem to have a legitimate beef, so here’s hoping they have the leverage to work out a deal. If not, it’s going to be brutal in a few months.

R. Maheras
Former member, Teamsters Local 710

by: Ian Boothby

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:15:12 +0000

Evan Dorkin is the Andy Kindler of comics.

by: Torsten Adair

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:51:39 +0000

All of this is interesting, but I wonder what will happen if the strike lasts long enough to coincide with the expiration of the Screen Actors Guild contract and the Directors Guild.
Much more interesting, as mentioned by Mark Evanier, is the parallel News Writers situation. CBS may have to air reruns of the Evening News!

by: The Beat

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:55:24 +0000

Evan, didn’t mean to misrepresent what you said. I think you actually are speaking for a LOT of people.

by: Patrick Dean

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:50:38 +0000

I’ve had my fingers crossed that the writers of “According To Jim” will take on an Iron Man title, but I doubt it.

by: Evan Dorkin

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:39:12 +0000

I wouldn’t categorize what I wrote as “comics fears”. They’re just my comments. I’m not afraid of anything, personally, and this is reflected in the rest of my blog post and the comments section. If Heidi wants to categorize it as a ‘fear”, that’s fine. I personally couldn’t care less about this in any real sense other than a snarky LJ post, it doesn’t and won’t affect me as a creator, reader or even viewer (I barely do any comics work these days, and stopped doing DC and Marvel work years ago by mutual consent between myself and the comics industry), and I don’t believe it will really mean much of anything to comics in the long run, by and large. It might, in fact, bring a lot of unexpected press to the medium and industry in the short run. Which will also not affect me as a creator or reader. So, yeah, really, it’s an excerpt from a longer discussion, and a misrepresented one, at that. I don’t speak for comics, I don’t fear for comics, I’m sympathetic to the strike (work is work, compensation is compensation), and I’ve made a career off petty bitching. Make of that what you will.

And folks, don’t hold your breath waiting for any proactive thinking in this industry unless you’ve made out your will first.

by: Evan Dorkin

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:36:43 +0000

I wouldn’t categorize what I wrote as “comics fears”. They’re just my comments. I’m not afraid of anything, personally, and this is reflected in the rest of my blog post and the comments section. If Heidi wants to categorize it as a ‘fear”, that’s fine. I personally couldn’t care less about this in any real sense other than a snarky LJ post, it doesn’t and won’t affect me as a creator, reader or even viewer (I barely do any comics work these days, and stopped doing DC and Marvel work years ago by mutual consent between myself and the comics industry), and I don’t believe it will really mean much of anything to comics in the long run, by and large. It might, in fact, bring a lot of unexpected press to the medium and industry in the short run. Which will also not affect me as a creator or reader. So, yeah, really, it’s an excerpt from a longer discussion, and a misrepresented one, at that. I don’t speak for comics, I don’t fear for comics, I’m sympathetic to the strike, and I’ve made a career off petty bitching. Make of that what you will. And don’t hold your breath waiting for any proactive thinking in this industry unless you’ve made out your will first.

by: Mark Engblom

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:22:57 +0000

It’s hard to think of anything I could care less about than the plight of Hollywood writers.

Maybe Scott Pilgrim.

Maybe.

by: G-Regal

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:20:34 +0000

Here’s Joss Whedon’s thoughts for today that addresses some of the things prople are commenting on:

http://whedonesque.com/comments/14650

Here’s Mark Evenier talking about if screenwriters are going to flood comics:

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_11_07.html#014321

by: rich

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:03:40 +0000

“And this is a boon for Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Where else will the writers gather to gossip, rest their weary dogs, and work on the novel they don’t have the gramamtical chops to finish? A $4 Ice Blended and you have a chair for the day.”

Interesting observation … café workers at my local Barnes & Noble were wondering about people who bring their laptop computers. Are they really working, or are they just trying to FEEL like a writer, and be seen in a writerly light?

Meanwhile, the PRINCETON BUSINESS JOURNAL (one of the tabloid’s I work for) is running an article this week about increasing numbers of people who purchase a latté and occupy a booth for several hours, while allegedly conducting business.

by: Robert Morales

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:30:39 +0000

Rather than being afraid of WGA flooding the far lower-paying comics field, it might be more productive for work-for-hire creators to consider the merits of unionizing while the shape of the industry is changing. No, wait - that’s proactive thinking, not petty bitching. Never mind.

by: Jonathan the Bellboy

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:31:14 +0000

I got stuck in a traffic jam en route to the dentist, one time you don’t mind traffic. People were rubber-necking at the strikers in front of Fox. James L. Brooks writer was on strike against James L. Brooks producer and offering canned bon mots to the media.

I’m an avowed leftist, but I do find the public’s fascination with a strike by well paid, well-spoken, predominantly white folks repellent next to the refusal to back a living wage, justice for janitors, or striking grocery store clerks. Hell, every WGA member with a baby is on the picket line for photogenic sympathy. When the grocery store staff struck, they were afraid to bring their kids (police batons, ya know) and couldn’t afford childcare.

And this is a boon for Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Where else will the writers gather to gossip, rest their weary dogs, and work on the novel they don’t have the gramamtical chops to finish? A $4 Ice Blended and you have a chair for the day.

by: Chris

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:05:59 +0000

Forget the strike —- are John Stamos and Moira Tierney dating??!?

Just kidding — Go Unions!!!

by: The Beat

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:33:53 +0000

Links!

by: Mark Coale

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:15:11 +0000

Joss Whedon also wrote about picketing on his site.

by: Peter

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:48:50 +0000

Wow, Evan Dorkin summed up my fears perfectly. KEEP HOLLYWOOD OUTTA MY COMICS!

by: hectorlima.com :: A Heidi falou :: November :: 2007

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:18:33 +0000

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