As most of you know, the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are on strike. Money is the main issue, but not the only one. Members are tired of being treated like chattel. They’re tired of seeing their work get “one million streams” and then getting a check for $11.27. With the studios, allegedly led by Netflix, digging in and doubling down, this may last a while.
That being said, studios still need content. You might think they would realize that simple fact and settle with the strikers. You would be tragically wrong, but I can see why you’d think that.
Nope, what they are doing, instead, is what just happened to me.
This nice gentleman, a/k/a sleaze ball, reached out to me with the offer of a lifetime. Long story short, he and his peeps were willing to develop The Brittle Riders and save a ton of money by using non-union cast and crew. Well, gosh, where do I sign?
Dear God, can you imagine a community theater version of this? High quality visual effects done by Chad who has temporary access to his cousin’s copy of Photoshop. Featuring a cast who all recently starred in the Oshkosh production of Brigadoon.
While there was never a moment where I even considered agreeing, I did hear them out.
The staggering level of bullshit was stultifying.
In essence, they were promising that there would be no repercussions. That all the nice people on strike would welcome me with open arms when the strike ends. That, somehow, despite the fact I’d be undercutting even the lowest pay scales, I would be respected.
I come from a union family and know full well that nothing they said is true. Had I gone along with this crap I’d be the proud owner of a shitty movie and a dead career.
At least they didn’t offer to make it a musical.
Well, I dodged that bullet and, by proxy, so did you. Until next time, stay safe and sane.
