What You Can Do To Support the Writer's Strike

Here's something everybody can do -- anywhere in the world -- to support the creators of the movies and television shows we all love:

http://www.petitiononline.com/WGA/petition.html

Pass it on!!

AND, if you are even more bold - this YOUTUBE video lists PHONE NUMBERS for the top network executives - you can call them and voice your support. Sounds almost like something from a sitcom to me. :) -

Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana IS The Best Of Both Worlds

Miley Cyrus is Hannah Montana at the SOLD OUT Staples Center last night!

I'll admit it. I had a good time at the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana concert. And, the Jonas Brothers were off the hook too! And, I'm not even in the target age group.

It was a sold out show, with fans screaming. I saw a lot of 8/9/10 year olds dressed in pink shirts and Hannah Montana emblazoned T-shirts. I also saw Blair Underwood and Sylvester Stalone walking around with their kids on the way to my seats.

The Jonas Brothers started the concert out. I was curious to see how popular they'd be (since they're less televised), but the young crowd seemed to know and love them already. Then Miley came out as Hannah Montana to thunderous high pitched screams. It was a good time to have ear plugs. She was bouncing with energy and her songs are catchy and easy to sing along with if you know them...and everyone there knew them. Hannah's set culminated in a duet with the Jonas Brothers, singing a song they sang together in a Hannah Montana television episode, "We Got The Party With Us." The screams were deafening at this pairing. The Jonas Brothers had a second set at this point, allowing Miley to change from Hannah Montana and come back as herself, Miley Cyrus. Miley's songs were catchy as well and the audience stayed rapt with attention. Amazing, if you consider children's attention spans. The last song she performed was a sort of digital duet with her Hannah Montana other side, singing along appropriately to "The Other Side of Me" to again deafening screams and applause from her young fans. The whole event was a little over two hours long with no break. It was a fun, energetic concert and the young fans seemed to know most of the songs and if they didn't, they were probably screaming anyway.

Take a look at some You Tube footage of Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) singing "Rock Star" at the opening of the Hannah Montana set. I'll admit it - I sang along too:

Why the Writers are Striking

Makes you think:

The Writer's Strike...and The Office

STRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!

The Writer's Guild has gone on strike.

Some of you, not in the know, might be thinking - who's that and why does it matter to me? Well, they're all the people that write your television shows, sitcoms, soap operas, late night talk show jokes, and movies. They're the people that provide an integral part of our entertainment. What that means is that eventually TV shows will run out of scripts and new episodes will stop and movies will follow. Although, from what I've read, the movie side could be a long time in coming - the studios stock piled scripts. Still, there will be entertainment casualties and it could be your favorite show.

Believe me, I am already weeping at the thought of missing Pushing Daisies, Gossip Girl, General Hospital, and Lost. And, then there's How I Met Your Mother and Samantha Who? and....should I go on???????? Sigh........ Sniff......

So, why would the writers strike? Some of the big issues are (and this is my take on the situation) that they don't feel that they're getting their fair share of things like dvd profits and they're not getting anything from their products (television, movies, etc) being sold and broadcast over the internet (which means the big companies are making a 100% of the profit on these things).

So, who's side should you be on?

Well, that's up to you, but here's my thoughts:

I work in Hollywood and I will soon be one of those affected by the strike. I will be unemployed with no opportunity for work in my field because production work is going to start disappearing. Still, I support the writers fighting for the rights they deserve to have - they do deserve dvd residuals and they do deserve internet residuals - it's the wave of the future, why should they give that up? They work hard on their writing and that writing is the foundation for our viewing entertainment. So, I say: "Fight wholeheartedly!" In fact, while you're here reading this - click on this link - the Showrunner of the Shield wrote an email about stopping ALL his work on that show. He's taking a stand and giving a lot up in the process. It's very admirable and difficult to take such a strong stand and thus, quite inspiring.

I applaud all the writers in their efforts. Good luck!!!!!!!

If you would like to read more about the WGA strike:
Deadline Hollywood Blog - great info on the strike!!!!
LA times - 11/6/07
MTV article - 11/6/07
Eonline - 11/6/07