Casting Voices

While writers are walking the picket lines, thousands of people, including caterers, hair and makeup stylists, actors, directors, and other folks who work in the entertainment biz are out of work costing Hollywood millions of dollars per day.

Now, I've got to tell you, I've heard nearly every argument put forth by the writers, supporters of the strike and a lone cowboy who couldn't take it anymore and needed to voice his opposition lest SAG and AFTRA become sympathetic to the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike and take the same issues to the bargaining table in summer of 2008.

It seems that everyone wants a piece of the striking action.

Just yesterday, the Broadway stage hands union went back to work after striking over something of their own accord. Imagine that... a host of other Broadway shows just started up again and now they have to recoup the money lost on stopped production.

One of my friends is headed down to NYC in a couple of weeks and she must be much relieved to hear that she'll be able to see Les Mis as was planned.

At any rate, there's been a great deal of vocal energy raised on the creative side of the fence.

What's been going around is the notion that the writers shouldn't be striking over monies to be earned through their work being used in new media, that is to say webisodes on the Internet and mobisodes on cell phones.

From what I've heard, there is no money (or budget) set aside to compensate people for work being promoted on the Internet.

Is that true?

Someone please step in and let us all in on the situation.

If you are a producer on the other side of this argument, I'd love to hear from you and learn about the struggles you are experiencing.

Don't let this be a one-sided debate anymore. Have your say by adding a comment here on the blog and let's get a conversation going.

Best wishes,

Stephanie