I arrived at Disney last Friday and was met with a completely transformed atmosphere. It felt like stepping into a whole new world, complete with music playing in the background. The actors had joined our picket lines and taken our signs, but that was okay. We knew that they needed us and we needed them. In fact, their presence reinvigorated the picket lines and even upgraded our tents.
On the first day of the strike, the check-in tent at Disney resembled a French pharmacy. There were bottles of La Roche Posey sunscreen in every SPF and a variety of lip balm. No one wanted to have a crusty smile when there were so many cameras around documenting our efforts. And let me tell you, there were a lot more cameras than before. Additionally, there was more shade cover than ever before. I even saw what looked like a make-up tent, and a friend of mine mentioned that there might be a beard-trimming station. The actors brought their own touch to the strike, embracing our blue shirts and adding their black shirts, creating a BLACK AND BLUE labor line and an overall fantastic vibe.
Another noticeable change was the increase in fans, both the air-moving kind and the human kind. Disney had turned into Hollywood Blvd. People dressed in full Star Wars regalia paraded around, proudly displaying their Instagram handles on their chests. They all held one shared sign that read: “Eat Shit Iger from the Disruptive Forces.” There was a parrot and a chameleon, clearly indicating the guild they belonged to. In addition to the fans, there was also watermelon lemonade being served as “Mickey Mouse Blood,” and the tacos were fresh and delicious. Chanting made a comeback and the actors, who were a spirited bunch, directed us on how to cross the street and avoid getting hit by cars. Sure, we had figured out these things on our own months ago, but their enthusiasm and dedication to the cause were truly inspiring.
Before the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) went on strike, before Fran delivered her impassioned speech, the morale of the picket lines had dropped significantly as the temperature continued to rise. Strike captains, who had signed up just to get a hat, were secretly hoping for a minor family emergency so they could take a break. Those of us who had been fired up on the first few days of the strike now had bruises near our bellies from resting our picket sticks. However, things took an even more discouraging turn when the Directors Guild of America (DGA) quickly reached a “groundbreaking agreement,” leaving us feeling like the ground beneath us was breaking.
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It seemed like the town sensed our resolve was weakening. My own managers tried to pitch me a project on the same day the actors went on strike, and a friend of mine shared their experience of being harassed and mocked by a producer who only wanted to “talk” about a project. People don’t seem to understand that a collective work stoppage is our only means to fight for fair compensation. Even those who support us sometimes fail to comprehend this. A writer friend of mine, who has been through three strikes, mentioned that Bob Iger, who used to be considered the nice and reasonable one, is now shaming us all the way from Sun Valley for demanding fair compensation. It’s clear that these CEOs, including Bob, have become completely out of touch with reality.
I recalled my time as an intern for a famous talk show host while I was still in college. It was a valuable experience that taught me a lot and provided me with important connections. However, I also learned a valuable lesson after finding a medium-sized dog turd under the talk show host’s desk chair. It had been there for so long that it was beginning to petrify. One of the assistants explained to me that there is a medical condition commonly developed by people who reach a certain level of wealth – they become completely out of touch with reality. The assistant spoke about it with a hint of sadness, as if it were a pitiable condition. The fact that our boss couldn’t even smell the turd under her desk because her nose was so far in the air symbolized her inability to recognize and appreciate the work people like me did for her. This lack of recognition is one of the reasons we are striking. Therefore, I can’t help but believe that Bob and other CEOs have been afflicted with the same medical condition as my former boss.
The AMPTP, the organization representing the studios and networks in labor negotiations, seems to be completely out of touch with reality. They have made themselves the enemy of Hollywood actors and writers, as well as the enemy of dreams coming true. When was the last time the hero of a story was ever the greedy CEO?
In conclusion, the presence of the actors at Disney has breathed new life into our picket lines. There is a sense of unity as we all fight for fair compensation. The increased number of fans and the vibrant atmosphere further elevate our cause. The strike is becoming more than just a demand for fair treatment; it is a movement that symbolizes the fight against the out-of-touch executives who have lost sight of the people who make their shows successful. We will continue to stand strong and show the AMPTP that we will not back down until our demands are met.
