I'm baaaack....

Hi All,

Hmmm July was last post. Didn’t seem that long. Sorry about that. You would have seen me commenting here and there around the place, so I had not dropped off the edge of the world.

One word to describe my actions. Selfish.

Instead of blogging, I’ve been putting that time into the scripts. In addition to that, I still know both my kids names, wife still tolerates me, dog doesn’t bite me and I’m still employed, so the juggling act is working.

Two scripts going nicely, 90 odd pages on one, and 50 on the other. Got two days coming up of a motel room, no family, hookers or bookies. Just me and Final Death, sorry Final Draft. That was actually a typo…..I think I am approaching these two days like a big tournament. Two days, 40 pages is what I want, take no prisoners. Wonder if I can sell tickets?

Okay, but no grief about writing whilst the strike is on. My own project, own time, etc. I have been following it as closely as I can from over here. That petition that was started. I was actually number 26. My birthday number, so hopefully that is a good sign for the strike.

I would like to say thank you to all the writers who are out picketing. Yes, it is for yourselves but it is also for people like myself and for the future, so thank you.

I wanted to show my support in some way, would love to be there and walk the walk with you all. Unfortunately, a few thousand km’s in between and saving the money for if I ever need to attend a few meetings over there :) One must have hope.

I did come up with one way to show my support and I think it is something that a lot of us aspiring writers based overseas can do. I went to my local store, grabbed some local chocolates(I don’t think they are available in the US, could be wrong though) and have just mailed them off to the WGAW offices asking them to distribute them, along with a letter of support at whatever gate they wish to take it to.

The chocolate I chose was the Cherry Ripe.

Lovely red packaging, I picked the snack bags, and popped them in mail. Thought it worked in well with the whole strike colour theme :) Should be there in a week and I hope the WGAW staff will pass them on.

I’ve given up reading the comments at Craig Mazin’s site for a little while. Anonymous(anonymi? Anonymous squared??) is/are becoming annoying and there are too many comments about the same thing or are just rehashing old points, bashing the same dead horse to a slow second death.

I feel for the under the line crew. I can see their point of view but they are amazing for standing by the writers, in most cases.

To the actors, thank you, and yes, you are next, so its good practice for later and any publicity is good publicity so we should not look a gift horse in the mouth.

I would like to discuss slogans. Some good ones, my personal favourite was the Lost writer’s sign asking if you wanted to find out what was on the island. Great stuff.

Here are a few ideas of my own, feel free to use if you like them:

(insert studio or studio head of choice) has a 0% strike rate.
Husbands: No Soaps means your wife will want to talk to you.
Wives: No scripts means more sports on TV.

Nothing fantastic but use ‘em if you like ‘em.

Till next time, take care and all the best for the strike, again, thankyou for doing it!

Cheers
Dave.