Downed pencils in Hollywood
It's now the nineteenth day of the called by the the . The writers have 'downed pencils', refusing to write a word until they are paid more for internet re-use of their material. This is how the writers of the Daily Show 'reported' the strike from the picket line:
The is the body that negotiates on behalf of producers in the movie and television industry. Their president Nick Counter accused the WGA of using McCarthyite tactics after members were urged to report strike-breaking writers:
The WGA is using fear and intimidation to control its membership. Asking members to inform on each other and creating a blacklist of those who question the tactics of the WGA leadership is as unacceptable today as it was when the WGA opposed these tactics in the 1950s.
The Colbert Report's head writer mocks the AMPTP's position: "There's nowhere to put money in a computer!"
For iPM we tracked down Tim Carvell, a writer on The Daily Show who has been picketing in New York. Eddie Mair spoke to him on Friday:
The on Saturday that talks would resume between the AMPTP and the WGA meant that this didn't make it to the show that day. (We also had a lot of material for a 24 minute programme). That said, we might take another look at the strike this Saturday given that talks are due to resume the following day. Any suggestions for interesting guests welcome. The Letterman writers could be fun -- they've been from the picket line since the strike started.
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