Sometimes I use Google’s News feature to search for news on The Office when I get bored. Today I came across an old article in the LA Times way-back when the whole production crew got laid off on the show. It really just opened my eyes as to how many jobs in Hollywood this affects.
“Our show was shut down and we were all laid off this week. I’ve been watching the news since the WGA strike was announced and I have yet to see any coverage dedicated to the effect that this strike will have on the below the line employees.
“I respect the WGA’s position. They probably do deserve a larger percentage of profit participation, but a lengthy strike will affect more than just the writers and studios. On my show we had 14 writers. There were also 2 cameramen, 2 camera assistants, 4 hair stylists, 4 makeup artists, 7 wardrobe people, 4 grips, 4 electricians, 2 craft service, 4 props people, 6 construction, 1 medic, 3 art department, 5 set dressers, 3 sound men, 3 stand-ins, 2 set PAs, 4 assistant directors, 1 DGA trainee, 1 unit manager, 6 production office personnel, 3 casting people, 4 writers assistants, 1 script supervisor, 2 editors, 2 editors assistants, 3 post production personnel, 1 facilities manager, 8 drivers, 2 location managers, 3 accountants, 4 caterers and a producer who’s not a writer. All 102 of us are now out of work.
“I have been in the motion picture business for 33 years and have survived three major strikes. None of which have been by any of the below the line unions. During the 1988 WGA strike many of my friends lost their homes, cars and even spouses. Many actors are publicly backing the writers, some have even said that they would find a way to help pay bills for the striking writers. When the networks run out of new shows and they air repeats the writers will be paid residuals. The lowest paid writer in television makes roughly twice the salary than the below the line crewmember makes. Everyone should be paid their fair share, but does it have to be at the expense of the other 90% of the crewmembers. Nobody ever recoups from a strike, lost wages are just that, lost.
“We all know that the strike will be resolved. Eventually both sides will return to the bargaining table and make a deal. The only uncertainty is how many of our houses, livelihoods, college educations and retirement funds will pay for it.”
–Maria Elena Fernandez
Also this past weekend I attended a wedding and one of my cousins happens to be a camera man. He is currently in the process of shooting a movie with Morgan Freeman in Boston, MA. Upon asking him how the strike effects the production of movies, he replied, “It really affects the actors more than me. In fact, it may even make my job a little easier. Because of the strike, we are not allowed to change a single thing in the script. If it calls for the actor to be holding a bottle of pepsi, we cannot change it to a bottle of coke. Also if it calls for the actor to look right, he HAS to look right and not left.”
I really hope the strike ends soon. I’m already feeling the detox symptoms from not having a new episode Thanksgiving night.
~Chris
Writer Gene Stupinsky graciously allowed me to interview him recently for Life In The Office. He is the co-writer of some of your favorite Office episodes: “The Fight”, “The Secret”, “Michael’s Birthday”, “Women’s Appreciation”, “The Convention”, “Traveling Salesman”, and “The Return”. He has also appeared on-screen, playing a Vance Refrigeration delivery man (along with writing partner, Lee Eisenberg) in “Valentine’s Day” and “Drug Testing”. 
Panettiere (“Heros” cheerleader). 
