Caution, caution, caution. Those were the watchwords on WGA picket lines Monday after a weekend of rising optimism that the three-month strike could soon end.
WGA board members and negotiating committee members continued their practice of bringing marchers updates -- mostly, "Don't believe the hype" -- and thanking them for their efforts. WGA West VP David Weiss showed up at the Paramount Windsor gate at mid-morning to speak with about two dozen picketers.
"It will be over when it's over and I don't think the fat lady is even warming up her voice yet," said strike captain A.L. Katz ("Tales From the Crypt"). "The devil's going to be in the details. And we are all very aware that the companies said after Thanksgiving that they had a great deal for us and then proposed a lousy deal. So once burned, twice shy."
The fat-lady analogy continued its workout with a Sunday evening voicemail message from Larry Gelbart ("Tootsie," "MASH") that went to WGA members:
This is Larry Gelbart. In all my decades as a member of the WGA, I’ve learned a few lessons about strikes and negotiations -- the most important being that it’s never over ’til it’s over, no matter how much the lady singer might weigh. As fellow and sister members of the Guild, you know how important the issues are for all of our futures and for those to whom we will one day hand our pens. Over the coming days, you will be getting calls asking you to join in to continue with the picketing. I ask you to set aside all the rumors, all the second-guessing, I ask you to set these aside and pick up a picket sign instead. I cannot stress how vital it is for all of us to show our commitment to our leadership during this current round of negotiations. Thank you.
That sentiment was echoed by SAG member Michael Miguel, who's been a constant presence at Par for the past three months and noted that SAG's contract expiration comes at the end of June. "I'm out here because we at SAG have to gear ourselves up for this just in case we have to go out this summer," Miguel admitted.
Miguel's found that making the commitment to showing up every day for picketing has been a serious challenge to his integrity. "I'm doing something that's very tedious and many days I get comments from people who are not qualified to be commenting about what I'm doing, so it's really easy to be tempted to not show up," he said. "All this has made me understand how important it is to be consistent and diligent."
-- Dave McNary
I am surprised that "Variety" wouldn't research someone before quoting them as if they were an expert. Michael Miguel? I looked him up and he has been on one movie "Doberman". Must be hard on his manager at Starbucks to work around his hectic picketing schedule. Come on folks the picket lines are public no disrespect to the one hit "Doberman" wonder but you just gave him a million times the exposure he has ever earned and had I not looked him up I would not have known that he was USING the strike to... network. This is a hideous ordeal and we are in the fourth month of unemployment for a huge amount of people. Please do a little bit of responsible investigating reporting.
Posted by: Kathy Harris | February 05, 2008 at 02:23 PM
How is MM being quoted as an expert? He's been on the picket lines in support of the guild and was asked for his views. No "investigating reporting" needed.
Posted by: Kitty | February 05, 2008 at 06:15 PM
How is MM being quoted as an expert? He's been on the picket lines in support of the guild and was asked for his views. No "investigating reporting" needed.
Posted by: Kitty | February 05, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Michael Miguel was the "jogger" in "Doberman"--he has one credit.Nice that he's out there on the strike route, BUT please Michael go get some credits as a SAG actor, then you can speak for SAG
Posted by: Marnie | February 11, 2008 at 10:01 AM