Still, it's a gesture started by fans, and has the potential to be an enormous, graphite-filled gesture to continue pressuring the AMPTP to make a fair deal as the talks begin after Thanksgiving. Others are recommending calls to the conglomerates and advertisers expressing dissatisfaction, which I think is a far more effective, but the sad reality is they don't care about, say, Canadian viewers, and the click-of-a-button ease means more people are likely to contribute to the pencil campaign than pick up the phone.
But if you think a truck full of pencils is bordering on futile and want to show your support, I can't find information on how a fan could donate to the WGA's Union Solidarity Fund, but writers have suggested donations to the Actors Fund to help non-writers whose jobs are affected. From CSI's David Rambo, as reported by Fans for the WGA:
The WGA currently has a $12 million strike fund. However, the people who will need assistance as this drags on longer are those in film and TV who don't have access to the strike fund: the office assistants, crew members and actors. They will really need the help to be able to continue in support of our strike, and there's no fund for them. There is, however, a wonderful 125-year old nonprofit organization that provides direct, confidential assistance to all entertainment professionals in need, such as those I just mentioned. It's called the Actors Fund, and you can find out more or make a donation through their website.
If you do donate, let the Actors Fund know that your contribution is in support of those affected by the writers strike.
I've made my donation, and feel better about that than sending crap, but this time the message is to the moguls: We're on the side of the pencils.
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Article comments
1 - Roy
What the writes have forgotten "is" we the public are the ones who keep you employeed. Thanks to cable, stations like the Discovery Channel, Military channel,Discovey Health etc. I for one really do not care if you stay on strike until Hell frezes over. You will have to get jobs making 6 to 8 dollars an hour. How will you pay your mortage etc. I say you have made your bed now you will have to lay in it.
2 - gonzo marx
and what Roy appears to have forgotten is that these Writers are middle class (some upper-mid, some lower- mid) folks who are only striking as part of the bargaining process on the value of their Labor
Directors and Actors have already bargained for their new contracts (as Unions) in the same matter of new residuals, now the Writers are merely looking to get the same kind of deal they already have for re-runs/syndication and VHS sales
one wonders what it is Roy has against Capitalism
Excelsior?
3 - Barbara Barnett
Diane,
I've never been one for futile gestures, but I do think sometimes symbols can be persuasive in making a point (as it were).
I think what the corporations may have not considered was that through the power of the Internet, fans can organize with and in support of the writers in a way never imagined 20 years ago during the last strike.
Barbara Barnett
4 - Diane Kristine
I agree, which is why I (sort of reluctantly) am joining the pencils campaign. Unfortunately the symbol means a little less now that it's spearheaded by one side of the strike. Still, it's something concrete fans can do to show our support ... but a symbol can't help put food on someone's table or pay their mortgage, which is why I encourage fans to do something even more concrete like donate to the Actors Fund.
5 - N2N2
I am one of the "Nutty Fans" that participated in the Nuts Campaign. I believe that the "symbol" was a very strong statement -- it is what got their attention. Then the 50,000+ email; letters, phone calls, youtube vids, etc. made them think again. One thing the studios have to understand is that the fan is the ultimate consumer of their product, and we know that whatever the outcome of this strike, we the fans, pay the price. Whether it is an additional $1 for a DVD or whether the price we pay is even higher -- more crap on TV!!
I joined the Nuts Campaign for the same reason I'm sitting here putting labels on 100 pencils to send to clueLES Moonves -- I don't like him telling me that I have to watch crap on his station. I am the customer; I want customer service. I want to be counted and I want a "CHOICE" when I sit down to watch TV. NOT a CSI for each of the 50 states nor more scripted unReality shows. Just remember this: Without writers you get blanks! Blank pages; blank scripts; blank screens; blank DVDs.
The writers are asking for FOUR CENTS! Some of that is what they gave back 20 years ago. Betcha clueLES didn't ask for pennies!!!