LOS ANGELES — Nearly two months without paychecks. Scores of shuttered shows. Thousands out of work. The Hollywood writers strike suggests a bleak Christmas for many in Tinsel Town.
But just like a movie script, this story has a twist: many striking writers remain upbeat despite the financial and emotional strains the walkout has brought to the season.
Since members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike Nov. 5, more than $350 million in wages have been lost, said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Committee.
Writers, though, are accustomed to sporadic employment and saving their pennies, and they’re inspired by the feeling that they’re helping their profession and the labor movement at large.
“We’re swept up by the romantic notion of being on strike and doing the right thing,” said Luvh Rakhe, a strike captain and writer for the ABC show “Cavemen.” “By strengthening the union movement in Hollywood, everyone who’s in a union benefits.”
But not everyone sees it that way.
The strike against the studios has also forced nearly 40,000 “below-the-line” workers — including electricians, carpenters, welders and prop masters — out of work, according to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Unlike the writers, who are buoyed by feelings of righteousness and will presumably benefit from the strike’s outcome, these workers are simply jobless at what should be a festive time of year.
The strike has been “devastating” for IATSE members, spokeswoman Katherine Orloff said.
“They’ve not only lost their paychecks, they’re losing hours that contribute to eligibility for health insurance and pension coverage,” she said. “Everybody wants to go back to work, whether they support the strike, don’t support the strike, are angry at producers or are angry at writers.”
Christmas presents are hardly a concern when “people are going to start losing their homes and their businesses,” she said. “Gifts are almost frivolous ideas at this point. This is about survival.”
Most writers and below-the-line workers earn middle-class incomes. The average salary for a writers guild member is $62,000 a year, according to the WGA. IATSE salaries are similar. Strike or no, employment is inconsistent for both groups, with nearly half of writers guild members and 10 percent to 15 percent of IATSE members without work during the year.
“As a writer, you have to develop the instinct of squirreling money away,” Rakhe said. “You’re just used to a lot of uncertainty in the first place.”
The WGA prepared its members for the possibility of a strike a year in advance, so many writers saved money and started buying Christmas presents early.
“Wisely, I did all my holiday shopping throughout the year,” said Sally Nemeth, a writer for “Law &Order” who described herself as “truly a middle-class member of the guild.” “My shopping was very modest, but I got it done months ago.”
Others curtailed shopping and travel plans to accommodate newly reduced incomes.
Randall Caldwell, who wrote for “Judging Amy,” said he usually travels to Memphis to see his mother for the holidays, but not this year.
“I’m staying home because I don’t know how long this will go on,” he said. “I’d rather be here picketing.”
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