A Free Zoom Series Teaches The Finer Points Of Screenwriting…
And supports striking writers!
And supports striking writers!
Via /film:
With the Writers Guild’s 11,000 members putting their pencils down during the strike and many of them walking the picket lines until the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) stops holding the entire industry hostage, the often solitary profession of writing has given way to experiences that are much more public and communal.
“One of the few good things that come out of a situation like this, which obviously no one wants to have happen, is that there’s a sense of community that starts to form,” Solomon said. “And what you realize is [that in addition to] the horizontal community is a vertical one, is a temporal one. Longitudinal, you could say. You’re just part of a history and a tradition that’s not just about sacrifices being made for those coming after, but also for the health and well-being of the entire creative community.”
That sense of togetherness has been crucial on the picket lines, and a show like Word By Word helps writers continue that sense of community online — and learn from some of the greats in their field while they’re at it. Writers as varied as Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”), Tracy Oliver (“Girls Trip”), Jesse Armstrong (“Succession”), Neil Gaiman (“Good Omens”), Sharon Horgan (“Bad Sisters”), and Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) have appeared as guests, participating in wide-ranging conversations that begin with topics like “Fear, Failure, and F***ing Up” and “Outlining: A Necessary Evil?” before spinning off into much more expansive conversations about the writing process.
“You also realize that just in terms of your own craft, that there are so many different ways to do things,” Solomon explained. “That’s one of the reasons that The Black List and myself, in our partnership, have found that the more we can talk to voices of not just previously under- and unrepresented groups, but different ages, different ways of [writing] — the more we do that, the more we’re all learning.”
Then there is the aspect of providing financial support to the striking writers and actors.
When WGA members aren’t out walking the picket lines, what are they to do? Word By Word not only helps provide a sense of appointment viewing and gives some value to those suffering at the hands of the studios, but it also helps facilitate financial contributions as well. “Aside from all of the selfish joy we’re getting from doing these things, we’re trying to do two things: Build community and raise money for people who are affected by this labor action that nobody wanted but was unable to avoid it, it appears,” Solomon said. “And both of those, I think, are served by being live. It becomes, by its own nature, a communal activity and creates an intention to be there live with a group.”
In terms of raising money, Word By Word viewers have donated tens of thousands of dollars to multiple strike funds. “When we started thinking about how can we help those that are being affected that aren’t just the writers, Susanna Fogel and Lena Dunham were our first guests and they were in the process, I think maybe just the day before, had announced TUSC, The Union Solidarity Coalition, which they had set up specifically to serve IATSE members who were losing their health insurance because they weren’t making their hours because of the shutdowns,” Halpern said.
Another fund they support is the Entertainment Community Fund, formerly known as The Actors Fund, which was founded in the 1880s and was especially helpful during the early days of the pandemic. The third fund was formed during the Pay Up Hollywood movement (a movement designed to shine a light on the pay inequities and abuses suffered by Hollywood assistants) and was originally called the Pay Up Hollywood Fund, but has since been rebranded.
Not much good has emerged from the writers strike, now entering its 5th month, but Word by Word is certainly one thing. You may follow Ed Solomon on Twitter to keep up with the schedule of podcast events.
To support writers, actors, and other workers in the film and television business impacted by the strike:
Hollywood Support Staff Relief Fund
For the rest of the /film article, go here.
#WGAStrong
For the latest updates on the strike and news resources, go here.