What's been happening since the strike has been going on:

I got braces.

I got an olive tree.

I read a few of the New Yorkers lying around making me feel guilty.

I caught up with almost all of the first four seasons of the greatest show on TV, The Wire.

I made a few strike buddies out on the line.

I wrote a sad short story that needs some work.

I saw a great documentary called Street Fight.

I started a "cleanse."

I've read some more Raymond Carver short stories.

I played nursemaid to my girlfriend who got pink eye.

I looked at an apartment.

I've gotten back to the gym a bunch.  

I did a couple days of yoga.

I tried to revive this here blog.  We'll see what happens as things progress in the world of showbiz hardball.

A message from my leader.

Dear WGA Award Nominee,

First of all, congratulations on your nomination. At a very difficult time for all of us, I hope you find this recognition from your fellow writers especially meaningful.

As I'm sure you know, we have put significant pressure on the conglomerates by withholding waivers and threatening to picket award shows like the Golden Globes, the People's Choice Awards, and the Academy Awards. Alternatively, we have granted waivers to SAG, the Independent Spirit Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards for varying strategic reasons. In such a highly charged atmosphere where award shows are being canceled or significantly altered because of our decisions, the Board of Directors has been grappling with what to do with our own show.

There are myriad political concerns and publicity issues regardless of what we do and our decisions sometimes change with events but, as of right now, we will not be holding the traditional WGA Awards show previously scheduled for February 9. I feel badly that this decision impacts on the opportunity for the guild to recognize your achievement but, with the Academy Awards bearing down, we expect to be pressured strongly to give them a waiver. Showing that the severity of the strike’s impact motivated us to postpone our own show will help make clear that we cannot give the Academy and the industry a pass.

I know this comes as disappointing news. We have yet to decide exactly what will happen in place of our show but, regardless, we fully intend and expect to celebrate your achievement at a public event once the strike is over.

Let me extend once more my personal congratulations and my gratitude for your understanding and patience. We are all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone
President, WGA West