writers on strike and what it means to la

Recently I was explaining to someone the difference between the Bay Area and LA. I have lived in both places, so speak from experience.

The way I see it, the big difference is that just about everyone who comes to LA wants to be (or finds themselves) connected to Hollywood. They want to be in the biz. In fact, at most large gatherings of people, you should not be surprised for people to come up to you to either brag about how they are connected, or to ask you how you are (and if you are not, don't be surprised if they walk away).

That is why this writer's strike is so scary. Let me step back and say that I totally support what the writer's guild is fighting for, I am just concerned about the little people who can get hurt and lost in the shuffle.

While most people have dreams of being (famous) actors or directors or producers or writers, most realize that you have to start somewhere, and so try and get support roles, aka support jobs at the big studios. If that doesn't work out, a wait job at a restaurant where studio execs are known to lunch isn't bad either. The other people who don't have these dreams (or won't openly admit to them), may still end up on Hollywood's payroll indirectly, providing goods and service to the stars. And of course, tourism is tied in big ways to Hollywood, just think Disney. You may not realize this, but there are few large corporations with headquarters in Los Angeles. It is Hollywood that keeps LA's economy ticking.

So as these shows start to close, it isn't just the writers and actors that aren't collecting paychecks. It is all the support people, and not just the ones you see at the end credits. Putting out a television series or a movie takes many people: lighting, sound, casting, publicity, catering, set directors, costume design, special effects, people to answer the phone, people to answer the mail, people to maintain the websites, cleaning crew, and so on. Outside the studio lot are the additional support people: from those businesses providing lunch and props to individuals providing child care and maid service. When you start to think about you see where all this is leading.

Meanwhile gas is over $3 a gallon and housing prices are starting to fall. It will take a lot before the big guys at the studios to feel this. For the little people it isn't going to take much at all. Life in LA is not for the weak or the faint of heart.

If you want a first hand account of a writer on the front lines, I highly recommend pamie.com. This is the blog of Pamela Ribon, who worked her way up and just landed a writing gig on the hit series, Samantha Who? (I'd link to the site, but she isn't getting paid). She is also the award-winning author of Why Girls are Weird and Why Moms are Weird. (Those links will take you to Amazon where you can buy her books and she will get paid.)

I will never forget when I attended her book signing. B and I arrived early and were in the cafe at Border's hanging out. When he sat down, about $40 fell out of his pocket. Pamie was sitting at a nearby table, and was kind enough to pick it up and hand it back to B, explaining what had happened. That is just what a class act she is. I am heartbroken to even think that my signed copy of Why Moms are Weird may have been stolen when our storage space was broken into. I so can't go there right now. But for her sake and those of everyone else that can be impacted in this, I hope it is over quickly, and that the writers are victorious.

p.s. If you are in LA, and want to go out and support the writers, here are the details.

on the night stand :: The Great Man