this strike; a pickle

[sab]

Several weeks ago I was approached by a producer with a script that needed a rewrite. I signed a non-disclosure agreement and a work-for-hire contract about three weeks ago, and got a copy of the script. Since then, I have put together notes and a pitch for potential rewrite concepts, and presented them to the producer on Wednesday.

He liked my changes, and wants to hire me to rewrite the script. We're meeting tomorrow (Sat) to talk about the deal, etc.

And in case you hadn't heard, there's a writer's strike in this town. I am not a WGA member, but any non-WGA member found taking writing work during the strike will be banned from the union for no less than five years. Plus, you know, crossing picket lines and whatnot = not of the awesome.

I just brought my car into the shop to learn it needs another $1000 in repairs. I am, as usual, DEAD BROKE.

This job could potentially pay between $10,000-$20,000, as well as ingratiating me into this production company that has two other future projects they're considering me for, if this one goes well.

FUCK ME GENTLY WITH A CHAINSAW, says I.

There are workarounds, like backdating the contract and/or working under a pseud, but any of these can be penetrated without much effort. Even backdating the contract to the date three weeks ago when I signed the NDA is suspicious -- at that point producers were EXPECTING a strike and could have brought in non-guild members as scabs in advance for future projects.

My WBC instructor has told me I really can't take the job. I haven't heard from my lawyer or any of my other industry phone calls yet. I'm going in to this meeting tomorrow.

I legitimately have no idea what I'm going to do. FUCK FUCK FUCK.

Comments

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

Short-term gain, but screwing yourself over for future work? Sounds too dangerous to consider...?

Good luck, either way. Yikes!

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

I'd say... I bet they (potential producers) are thinking pretty damn hard on this as well. Like, fuck, we liked her and I hope she comes to the meeting tomorrow. And while crossing picket line = bad, you never know what other incentives they might offer you. Which may sound whorish, but to be frank, people willing to cross the picket line are ... a scarce commodity. Not saying that you *should* do it, but until you know what premium they're willing to offer you to do it, it's hard to know what you'll be willing to do.

And if you're not required to say yes to it on the spot... this is a pickle, and a moral quandry, but it is also an opportunity. Because your skill is the one that is suddenly quite scarce.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Man, I've got no words, dear.

I know the broke feeling, well. The thing is - 5 years is a LONG time. How badly would that part screw you?

You're in my thoughts

[cincodemaygirl.livejournal.com]

This is what I was gonna say, too, Sab. It would be a shame to earn the money now but screw yourself over for five years. If your advisers say don't, I think you should trust them.

*sends hugs*

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

You want to talk to me about it? Ping me on gmail?

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

My comment seems to have disappeared. If you want to talk to me about it, you can ping me on gmail right now-- Rphoenix2@gmail.com.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Okay, here's my thought: don't do it. Take the meeting tomorrow (before even doing a meeting is breaking a picket line) and say so.

If you scab, the WGA WILL find out, and you will be FUCKED. Ingratiating yourself with one company is not worth giving yourself a bad name with many, many others, all over town, probably for even longer than the 5-year legal consequences.

Also, I can't tell you how many times I've gotten similarly great-sounding offers, only to have them completely fall through at the last minute-- yes, even post-contract. You could very easily break the strike, get caught, and lose the job anyway. That would suck.

On the positive side, you may not lose the job, as every other writer who might be up for it may be thinking the same thing. Tell them you'd love to do it-- the instant the strike is over-- but that you really can't jeopardize your entire future career by strike-breaking. With luck, the job will wait for you. If not, they'll probably respect your position enough that you won't have burned bridges in terms of future employment.

Plus, scabbing is wrong. Don't do it.

I agree with rachel.

[kormantic.livejournal.com]

Don't do it, honey. If you can get by any other way, wait it out.

[jalfred.livejournal.com]

Don't break the line. I say that as someone on the other side of a strike. (Yes, I am so management. Fuck you you very much.)

But really, my position as management and sympathy therein is so a matter of ending up a person who has to deal with the paperwork. And I believe in what the WGA WANTS to accomplish with this strike and they're asking management for. But that has nothing to do with it.

If the producers like your work, they'll like your work after the strike. And if they only liked your work because you weren't in the union yet, that wouldn't fucking matter when it's over. So don't break, because when it's all over, there'll be an agreement and the union won't be dead and you'll need to have a career and a life.

Apologies for the slightly less than sober response. I'm staring down the IATSE Local One strike here in NYC. Not that I'm working on Broadway, but New York theater a very delicate system, which includes the vital component of the continued existance of actors making health insurance here in my fair city.

[fmangel.livejournal.com]

Hey, so I guess this is why you called me. Sorry I haven't called you back yet.

I wouldn't do it. You don't want to blow your next 5 years. I think that is the bottom line. And I also think you can't meet with this guy after the strike starts. Also, I am pretty certain you can't work even if you had a contract dated three weeks ago.

Do you want to call me tomorrow before your meeting? I am totally in the middle of something right now. But I can talk to you more about this if you need to. I am available all day.

[se-parsons.livejournal.com]

I think the writers are right on this one and you shouldn't break the strike. But if you really need the money to live...

blacklisted writers found workarounds in the 1950s.

Could somebody who has no intention of ever screenwriting front for you to prevent you being found out and ruined? You wouldn't be able to use it as a credit for future jobs, except with this possibly unethical company. Is that worth it?

Definitely take the meeting whatever you decide to do.

[fialka.livejournal.com]

Jebus, that sucketh like a mighty sucking hoover of a thing. But I echo what Rachelmanija (and several others) have said. It won't help you fix the car, I know, but if they want you now, they'll still want you when the strike is over (or they're the kind of company that's likely to screw you over for other reasons anyway).

Take the meeting as if it's already been agreed that you'll do their script as soon as the strike is over. That puts them in the position of either having asking you to scab, which they possibly won't because there's industry ramifications for them as well, or agreeing that yes, this will go ahead when the strike is over.

Whether that will happen, well, to misquote the Froon, it's a sure thing when the check has cleared, and it doesn't take a strike to make a deal fall through in Hollywood. If you got this far with this company, you'll get this far with another. Don't shoot yourself in the foot right when the cool kids are starting to ask you to dance.

dang.

[kormantic.livejournal.com]

So. What's going to happen?