Topic!Cindy,

The pencil campaign is pretty much just another in a long list of other campaigns, similar to the constant 'save our shows' stuff we've seen with Jericho and other shows. I don't expect it to work any better than the other campaigns. It made me feel a tiny bit useful than just doing nothing but watch from the sidelines.

NoiseDesign

What can fans do to make the weapons of writers stronger?

And to expand on what Cindy is saying, I think people like Allyson, NoiseDesign and myself are not telling anyone "resistance is futile" or anything like that. Dog knows that none of us are on the side of the producers.

But it seems like a big chunk of fandom has this really wide-eyed, rose tinted view of the situation, and how much of an effect stunts like this are going to have on the producers. Many of us have first hand knowledge (or close to it) of what producers are actually like, and how laughable they find things like the pencil stunt.

It does fandom no favors to hold silly and wrong-headed illusions, and since we're a part of fandom, and care about fandom, we're just trying do disabuse people of their false notions of how effective stunts like this are.

Perhaps we are in the minority, but I think we are to one degree or another people who would rather tell a friend an unpleasant and hard-to-hear truth than let them continue lying to themselves. I have come to discover through life that many people think it's better to feed that same friend's delusion.

I think everyone realizes what they were going for -- big, symbolic show of support from fans. However, the fact that writers guided it and contributed to it immediately taints the idea that it's about the fans.

I still want to know, what was the point? $40K spent on a big vat of pencils that Joss and Co. were left standing next to on a studio lot? It was pretty obvious to me from the start that the AMPTP wasn't going to give a flying crap. The fact that it was glossed over and lumped in with things like the exorcism shows what the producers thought of the stunt, IMO.

And, honestly, the "send in a random object as a show of rabid fandom" thing is cliche; there's no story there for the press at large to really latch onto. It's been done. That's why I thought Allyson's idea of the producers matching funds was so great; the idea that the writers and fans would band together to look out for those affected by the strike during the holidays is a much better story than blowing $40K on pencils, even if they are made of recycled bits and will eventually wind up in the hands of L.A.-area youths, or whatever they say they're planning.

It seems likely that $40K contributed to helping those out of a paycheck while the strike continued would have benefited the cause a whole lot more than unused pencils.

I think the pencils helped the writers in a morale-ish way more than it sent a message to the AMPTP.

I hope the pencils are getting donated to the poorest school districts in the area and any community afterschool and tutoring programs serving the same areas. Do some good with them.

They are being donated to LA schools, msbelle. I'm unsure how they're being distributed.

That is good to hear. I had visions of pencils in dumpsters.

Monique already spoke to my issues on the pencil campaign. I was bothered by the way it was taken over and run by WGA members. I mean, there's a reason Allyson, Kiba and I lied through our teeth during the FF campaign. Having a "fan" action run by the people who are hoping to benefit from it makes it less meaningful. At least, to me.

They are being donated to LA schools, msbelle. I'm unsure how they're being distributed.

I really hope that we're not just dropping off half a million pencils somewhere and expecting the school system to sort it out. Maybe they'll do some organized distribution to various schools.

ETA: Especially since I think they were unboxed for delivery to the studios.

It almost seems like every post here is telling writers and their supporters that 'resistence is futile' when it comes to attempting to wring a better deal from the studios.

Elais, I've expressed here previously that I have concerns. Concerns about how we got here, what we're doing and what's going to be left once this strike is over.

Plus I think I'm just strike weary. It sucks to be on strike. It sucks to be broke this holiday season. It sucks to have your future be so uncertain.

So, you know, feel free to take my posts with a pillar of salt. I'm grouchy.