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.
Zoe: Captain will come up with a plan. Kaylee: That's good. Right? Zoe: Possibly you're not recalling some of his previous plans.
'Safe'
The Minearverse 5: Closer to the Earth, Further from the Ax
[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls, The Inside and Drive), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.
Laura - Dec 16, 2007 5:02:45 pm PST #9025 of 10001
Our wings are not tired.
Tamara - Dec 16, 2007 5:59:35 pm PST #9026 of 10001
You know, we could experiment and cancel football.
I think the pencils helped the writers in a morale-ish way more than it sent a message to the AMPTP.
msbelle - Dec 16, 2007 6:08:40 pm PST #9027 of 10001
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb
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.
Allyson - Dec 16, 2007 6:15:04 pm PST #9028 of 10001
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica
They are being donated to LA schools, msbelle. I'm unsure how they're being distributed.
Laura - Dec 16, 2007 6:30:47 pm PST #9029 of 10001
Our wings are not tired.
That is good to hear. I had visions of pencils in dumpsters.
Kristen - Dec 16, 2007 6:45:51 pm PST #9030 of 10001
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.
Kristen - Dec 16, 2007 6:53:49 pm PST #9031 of 10001
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.
Polter-Cow - Dec 16, 2007 7:39:19 pm PST #9032 of 10001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Allyson, I got this response from someone:
Would you mind having her write up something short about what the project is/what it's for? It can just be a sentence or two but if it's something i can pass on it would help getting people to hook me up with shit.
Could you whip up something short and sweet? I think people would be willing to help.
Typo Boy - Dec 16, 2007 8:13:52 pm PST #9033 of 10001
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
About the various PR stunts: they contribute to writer morale. Which helps the writers continue not to write. (Not to say that the $40,000 spent on pencils might not have been better directed. But I think most of the other, cheaper stunts were well worth it for the morale boost.) Also, to the extent public opinion is affected, that is morale boost for the writers too.
DavidS - Dec 16, 2007 8:22:08 pm PST #9034 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I'm not all bent out of shape about $40k in pencils. People make the gesture that feels right to them. They're not all going to be directly to the Food Bank. School kids get the pencils and that's one less thing out of that teacher's budget. Not in a dumpster.
That noted, giving help to out of work crew members seems like a far more productive gesture.