'CSI' Stars And Fans Support The WGA

CSI fans take it to the skies.

This morning, a plane flew over Universal Studios, where Writers Guild of America (WGA) members were picketing. The banner trailing behind the plane read "CSI Fans Support WGA". According to an e-mail sent to Nikki Finke, the fans hoped that the banner "will serve as a morale boost for the writers and let them know that the fans are behind them." Fans from all over the world contributed to the campaign to fund the flyover. "We understand that the writers are fighting for what is fair and owed to them," the e-mail said. "They are only fighting for what they rightfully deserve, and we get that."

While the fans proclaimed their support from the sky, some of the stars of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation stood with the writers on the picket lines. During a demonstration of solidarity organized by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) called "Picketing with the Stars", television actors from almost thirty programmes joined the WGA members from 12:00pm to 2:00pm today. Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows), whose husband Alan Rosenberg is the president of the SAG, was joined by fellow CSI cast members William Petersen (Gil Grissom), Archie Kao (Archie Johnson), Marc Vann (Conrad Ecklie), Wallace Langham (David Hodges), Liz Vassey (Wendy Simms), David Berman (David Phillips) and John Wellner (Henry Andrews). The rally was organized by two members of the WGA negotiating committee: CSI showrunner Carol Mendelsohn and Desperate Housewives showrunner Marc Cherry.

The strike itself is not moving any closer to negotiations. The WGA is continuing to picket, showing up at the crack of dawn at studios in an attempt to turn away Teamster drivers (many of whom are choosing to honor the lines). Yesterday was a school holiday for Veteran's Day, so many of the WGA members and supporters brought their children with them to the picket lines. Meanwhile, The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) took out paid ads in the trades titled "Setting the Record Straight". In the ad, the AMPTP said that writers are paid residuals for permanent and pay-per-view digital downloads, and the ad also stated that the WGA West members received more than $260 million in residuals last year. The ad also asserted that there had been an offer on the table during the failed negotiations with the WGA to pay writers for internet streaming. WGA East president Michael Winship sent a letter to guild members, and within that letter he stated that the guild is asking for increases that would amount to less than $200 million over the three-year term, and he compared that number to the billions of dollars in profit that the studios earn each year.

While thousands of writers and supporters gather on the picket lines every day to show solidarity during the strike, some soap opera writers have chosen to cross the lines in order to keep their jobs. The WGA would not comment on the defections, but it is believed that several writers have made the decision to go "financial core", meaning that they will give up full membership in the guild and hold back on the dues usually paid for political activities. In return, the writers would be able to continue working during the strike. With declining ratings and the potential for cancellation, the soap opera writers are trying to keep their shows afloat. The networks know that a long stretch of repeats could prove fatal for the daytime programmes. Even with this in mind, the defections are the exception rather than the rule, and most soap opera writers are honoring the strike.

The e-mail to Finke can be read in it's entirety at Deadline Hollywood Daily. The full list of stars that appeared at "Picketing with the Stars" can be read at United Hollywood. You can read more about actions of the WGA and AMPTP at Variety. Information about the soap opera defections can also be found at Variety.

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