Horror Writers on Strike

[3113]

Trust writers to get creative with their strike ...especially the horror writers:

Scenes from a Horror Writers Strike

"I'm here to exorcise the studio to drive out its demons and to restore the studio executives to sanity so that they may negotiate with us and give us a fair deal," says Scott Kosar, fighting to be heard over the din of honking traffic. He has traded in his laptop for a priest's cassock and Roman collar. In one hand he carries a bullhorn, in the other, "The Roman Ritual of Exorcism" - printed on three-hole punched paper, bound in brass tacks, of course. Okay, so he's temporarily a man of the cloth, but he's a screenwriter at heart.

Today he, and an estimated 75 striking horror screenwriters, congregated outside of the Burbank, California lot for Warner Bros. (the studio that gave us The Exorcist) for one of the most creative rallies to date since the WGA strike began three weeks ago. Kosar, whose credits include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake and The Machinist, pulled this rally together with the assistance of Adam Gierasch and Jace Anderson (Mother of Tears), Hans Rodionoff (The Lost Boys 2), Evan Katz (Pop Skull) and Stephen Susco (of "The Grudge" series). Save for Katz - who carries a boom box belting out religious hymns - all of the key players are dressed in some divine attire to perform a studio exorcism outside of Warner Bros.' Gate 4.

"Let the heathens that torment studios hear the Guild's voice and feel its resolve which is far, far stronger than the enemy had anticipated!" Kosar bellows through his bullhorn before the ceremony, readying a vile of holy water he will later splash onto the studio grounds. Various television outlets press their cameras in his face. "Because after all...the pen is truly mightier than the sword!"

His words welcome a roar of chanting "Out, demon, out!" from the flock which includes The Omen's David Seltzer, the "Saw" franchise's Leigh Whannell and James Wan, Jake Wade Wall (Amusement), Matt Greenberg ("Masters of Horror: Fair Haired Child"), Stuart Gordon (Stuck), Mick Garris ("Fear Itself"), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Don Mancini ("Child's Play" series), Mark Swift (Friday the 13th), Mike Mendez (The Gravedancers), Brad Keene (The Grudge 3), David J. Schow, Dan Farrands (The Girl Next Door), David Hayter, Drew McWeeny, Scott Swan, Eric Red (100 Feet), Brian Nelson (30 Days of Night), JT Petty (The Burrowers) and many more.

"This affects everybody, whether you're a horror fan or romantic comedy fan, anything," one writer explains commenting on why movie-goers should be paying attention to the strike. "The [material] can dry up unless this ends." Another writer adds, "Television is getting hit first, then so will feature films. There's no question about it, there will be a trickle down effect - people want their horror and by next Halloween those who want their holiday genre films may not get as many as they have seen [in past years]."

Says co-organizer Jace Anderson about the turnout, "We were hoping to get fifteen people here. That was our big goal, so I'm thrilled - I'm amazed, actually," she beams We got so much support and help today from writers like Mick Garris, Dave Schow and the Guild. And we wanted to emphasize this was a collective action."

Weaving through the crowd, Shock caught a whiff of optimism among the participating writers. Some spoke warily of the rumored positive buzz stemming from yesterday's meeting between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. Will the exorcism do the trick? Kosar seems to think so, "Never underestimate the power of God, brother."

To see a video of these exorcists in action: Horror Writers on Strike

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Thanks for posting such an uplifting item about the screenwriters strike here in the Author's Hangout. The outpouring of interest says it all.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[jomar]

I want to see some scabs break through the picket lines and write a few episodes of some shows. A few dozen monkeys with typewriters ought to do.

 

[hmmnmm]

Maybe if a horror movie that intrigued me enough to be horror movie viewer had appeared sometime in the last quarter of a century, I'd be somewhat sympathetic or concerned about how such a sudden hole in the 'entertainment' industry affects me.

But, the world is rife with strife enough so may the concerned parties find a peaceful resolution.

 

[3113]

The outpouring of interest says it all.

Sadly yes. We should all remember that we never, ever know when or if something WE write might make it to some other medium. And if it should ever make it to some other medium, as a movie or television show, we would probably find ourselves very thankful that these writers put in so much effort to gain us a little extra income and rights for our work--whether or not we liked their work.

I have a lot of friends who never imagined anything they'd written would end up being optioned for movies or tv, but sure enough, their work has been optioned, even made into movies/tv: short stories, novels, self-published comic books, even comic strips. You just never know. Which is why, so long as I'm a writer, and the cause seems just as this one does, I won't mock any such strike by my fellow writers. I might smile at the humorous spin that can be put on it, but in the long run, it's way too close to home. There but for the grace of God go we...it can happen. I've seen it happen.

 

[jomar]

Sadly yes. We should all remember that we never, ever know when or if something WE write might make it to some other medium. And if it should ever make it to some other medium, as a movie or television show, we would probably find ourselves very thankful that these writers put in so much effort to gain us a little extra income and rights for our work--whether or not we liked their work.

I have a lot of friends who never imagined anything they'd written would end up being optioned for movies or tv, but sure enough, their work has been optioned, even made into movies/tv: short stories, novels, self-published comic books, even comic strips. You just never know. Which is why, so long as I'm a writer, and the cause seems just as this one does, I won't mock any such strike by my fellow writers. I might smile at the humorous spin that can be put on it, but in the long run, it's way too close to home. There but for the grace of God go we...it can happen. I've seen it happen.

The monkeys couldn't win an Emmy of course. They'd only work on the worst shows that probably wouldn't get picked up for another season anyway. But maybe that's the director's fault and not the writer's. But to be clear, not mocking the strike because they'll get screwed if they don't look after themselves. But definitely mocking some of the drivel that gets put on the tube. And if I'm lucky, may that drivel someday be mine.