I thought that might be the case, ND. Which sucks even more.

If we end up with too much money, is it okay if I put some aside for things like baking cookies, or perhaps a rainy day striker umbrella fund?

I'm good with however you allocate it, Allyson -- cookies, rainy day fund, sending half to Jesse for NYC writers -- whatever.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. On a selfish note, it always makes me feel awesome that you trust me like this.

Hell, you've more than earned our trust.

Many thanks to Polgara for donating the bags and for helping me schlep to Fox.

Thanks, Polgara!

Yeah. One of the guys I'm friends with does amazing blood and wound effects so he gets called on shows like CSI and medical thillers when they need specific effects. He was booked on a few upcoming projects and they are all just gone now. He understands the writer's plight but has a hard time being supportive when he's lost his income. Also, since he's below the line he never gets a piece of the back end so he doesn't have any residuals coming in.

The best, clearest, unbiased article I've read yet summing up the current situation, aptly titled: Why the Striking Writers Are Right

Donors Choose question....

Did anyone else get a $100 Gift certificate for donating? I'm asking because I'm trying to get V, an elementary teacher, to set up a proposal for bookmaking supplies like crayons, paper, staples etc. and I want to know if anyone would be interested in using their $100 GC for that? It might take a week or a little longer to get it all set up.

I got one.

I hope that no one is misunderstanding me. I believe the writers are completely in the right here. The studios are truly trying to screw over anyone attached. I don't blame the writers for what is happening. I'm just trying to make sure that the folks that are getting lost in the shuffle here aren't forgotten. The average crew is just paid a day rate, or a flat rate for doing a project. If there is no new work coming in, then there is no money coming in. I personally think that if the project makes a lot of money on the back end, then everyone should get a piece of that, but I also know that will never, ever, ever happen. I'm also a little worried for myself. I don't work in film and TV a lot, but I work in related industries and I know how the spillover works. If a lot of production people spill out into the job market, then I could lose work to some of them as they cross over into the areas where I normally work. Also, in the the past, when times get lean the studios stop taking any sort of risk. Well, studios own the theme parks where I get a lot of my work, and new attractions always have a lot of risk associated with them. So yeah, I'm worried.

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure people know, I do support the writers. I know this strike has to happen. I also know that there's a good chance I'm going to feel the pinch due to it, and that a lot of my friends are already feeling the pinch.

Perhaps if theres any significant amount of money left after the goodie bags are assembled some of it could be donated to The Actors Fund.

My plans for activism at this point include putting together one basket of fruit to take to Sony and sending a very wee donation directly to The Actors Fund. After that I might do some volunteer work on Thursday if Fans4Writers has need of me.

Allyson, insent for the WGA goodie bags. Use it as you see fit.

Also, thanks for the link to ActorsFund.org, Austin. I'm glad to have some way to help the non-writers who will be affected by this.

Greedy evil studios.

Did anyone else get a $100 Gift certificate for donating?

I got one too, Kat, and haven't used it yet. Definitely let us know if your friend is going to set something up.