Seriously, the most disenfranchised group in all of this is the crew, and if anything it appears to be that the WGA management is either ignoring them, or telling them to shut the fuck up.

Most industries have a topology where people at the top are paid extremely well, and people towards the bottom, not so much.

Maybe it's different in the UK--the entertainment biz isn't as sparkly and as faux-royal there, IIRC. Just like it's hard to convince some people that there are athletes not rolling in dough, all published authors are rich, and all actors make mad bank.

While it's a step in the right direction for people to think of the existence of writers, given the instances I know of people making it as an actor or writer and then going "Wait, wasn't I supposed to be richer?" I'm not going to give the benefit of the doubt to people who don't spend any time thinking about where their entertainment springs from.

You guys, I am the worst volunteer ever. I can't figure out when I'm going to deliver stuff to NYC picketers! This week, I could basically only do Friday, but it doesn't look like they are picketing anywhere on Friday! And then I'm out of town most of next week. As long as they don't settle next week, I am on it, but I'm getting a little worried. And feeling lame. It doesn't help that they only do 4-hour pickets and not every day.

I've been trying to explain the strike to various family members and co workers and sometimes I have to explain things that seem simple to me. I run into people who don't know what a residual is much less how it works and why there would be a fight over it. And these aren't stupid people, just people who watch tv but aren't interested in/don't know the mechanics of how it works.

I try to explain that, yeah, there are really rich people out there, but there are a lot of people who aren't. I try to talk about the writers of shows that get cancelled after 1 or 2 episodes and how it can be a long time before a writer can find another job and the residuals can make the difference between them getting a pay check or not (I realise this is probably a simplification).

I've been talking about the mean vs. median a lot. When I explain that bit, people tend to say "ohhhhhh!'

People have a hard time seeing past the big paychecks. They just see numbers like $20,000 to option a script. They don't understand that something like having an option bought on a script may only happen once or twice a year if someone is very lucky. Also that in LA making $40,000 a year really doesn't go very far. Not when buying a 1 bedroom condo can cost half a million.

Here's a question, and this is an actual question, not me snarking:

Should the WGA be worried about public opinion?

Of course, it's key to winning.

These are publicly traded companies. The public provides the almighty Nielsens.

Why do you think the writers are begging for pencils?

No no no. Not begging. They're "channeling positive fan energy."

Get with the lingo ... or do I have to email you to explain why they're doing this?

Please no. Not again.