Like just about anyone who’s grown up in western culture, I’ve been a fan of the television and movie industry since about the time that Bert and Ernie first taught me to count to 10. As I’ve gotten older, my viewing habits have gotten more sophisticated, to the point where now, effects, hype and all of the summer popcorn movie tactics have begun to matter much less and great writing is now the determining factor for what I watch on TV and at the theater - maybe that’s just part of growing up.
I’ve been a fan of serialized drama for some time and in 2006, I was more than interested when I saw the advertisements for the post apocalyptic drama, Jericho. Right from the beginning, the plot, characters, and story had me hooked. The writers had created a world that was full of uncertainty, full of mystery, and that was totally engaging. Early indicators were that it was going to be a hit, but the show went on a long hiatus, and never recovered its audience after the break.The show’s second half found a maturity that didn’t seem possible with only a 12-episode history, and we fans loved what we were seeing. However, many of us weren’t being counted. After a gut wrenching season finale, CBS (looking at outdated Neilsen ratings) cancelled the show with no resolution to the story.
A now infamous campaign ensued, and my fellow fans and I bombarded CBS with nuts (a reference to a line in the finale), letters, videos, graphics, calls and other items of protest. In only 3 short weeks, we managed to change the mind of CBS, and they gave us 7 more episodes, and allowed our writers to keep telling the story.
As I reflected on what we did, and why we did it, it became crystal clear to me that this world we all thought was worth fighting for started in the hands of three very talented writers (Stephen Chbosky, Josh Schaer, and Jonathan E. Steinberg). It was further defined and refined by seven other writers who gave the show a real life/”what if” quality that drew us in week after week (much of it through new media outlets).
Good writing has the power to make you care. Good writing makes you think, it makes you feel, and as I’ve now experienced, it has the power to make you act. I’ve never been an active fan of any other television show beyond just tuning in on regular basis, but this show made me want to take on the networks. It made me want to invest time and money and artistic skills in the effort to revive it. And then came the writers’ strike.
When I was forwarded the link to “Why We Fight”, which creatively encapsulated the strike so well, I was angry. I knew at that moment I had to do something. I joined others in the Jericho fandom in sending pencils, promptly became involved with sites like www.fans4writers.com. I stopped watching online repeats, and I haven’t downloaded a show from itunes since November (a big change). I was no longer just pro-Jericho, I had become pro-writer, evangelizing to all of my friends and family about the injustice of the AMPTP. I even managed to create some videos and graphics featured here on United Hollywood, and United Hollywood Live.
Writers, while many of your fans have not been able to be physically present for the strike, we have joined with you in spirit. We’ve joined the virtual picket line and stand proudly with you as you fight this tough battle. You are the genesis of this industry, and you deserve everything your are asking for.
As rumors of a deal are looming, I wanted to say from the fan perspective, I hope you don’t settle for something that is anything less than you were hoping for.
This fight means too much, and you will not get a chance like this again to safeguard your/our (we fans are in this too) future. You have held out for too long to give in to something less than fair, or else, what was the point of the last several months?
I know that many fans are willing to happily give up new episodes of their favorite programs, online viewing and whatever else it takes until you get a fair deal. And when this thing is over, remember the affect you have on us. Your work is something that enriches our lives, and although throughout this strike you’ve even more aware of our presence, we are still there even if we are less visible. Stand strong WGA!
-Rubberpoultry
Fan
No comments:
Write comments