On Strike With Jane Espenson
November 18th, 2007 Posted in Browncoat NewsOn the opening day of the WGA writer’s strike, a friend (DizzyEllie) and I were on the strike line in LA with Firefly writer Jane Espenson and the rest of the writing team for her current show, Battlestar Galactica. We found ourselves in this unique position the day after a Firefly convention we’d flown to LA for.
The last night of the convention featured a party with all the trimmings: browncoats, booze, flashing lights, and ill-advised dancing to 80’s music. In the middle of the din, a shadowy figure known as Theonetrueb!x approached me with great stealth.
“What’s your position on the writer’s strike?” B!x yelled into my ear.
“Don’t know enough about it to have one!” I screamed back, gripping my pinapple colada and blinking as one of the club’s many spotlights targeted me. B!x was tactful enough not to slap me for my ignorance, and filled me in. Jane Espenson had posted a request for fans to join her on the strike line, and B!x was recruiting eager (and/or drunk) browncoats.
The next morning, DizzyEllie and I woke up altogether too early, checked the directions posted in B!x’s window, logged onto Whedonesque, and discovered that we 1. were supposed to wear red shirts to the strike, and 2. both happened to be wearing red or almost-red shirts. We ate crepes, and proceeded to the subway where we traveled to Universal studios and wandered up to a couple of red-shirted people clutching lists and picket signs. They happened to be writers (for Bionic Woman and one other show I believe) who were about to drive to the area where Jane was posted, and they kindly gave us a lift. Surreal, a little.
We were dropped off on a pretty LA street corner near the entrance of the Universal Studios theme park (I think), given signs, and pointed in Jane’s direction. She was part of a surprisingly small group of strikers, along with only two other fans (readers of her blog). We introduced ourselves to Jane (very sweet and friendly, and in a lovely mood considering the circumstances) and the others, who turned out to be the writers for Battlestar Galactica and their co-exec producer (I think).
I admit to having felt some slight initial hesitation, not knowing much about the strike and how we’d be received out there; it turned out to be quite a positive experience. People in passing cars honked and waved in support, Starbucks coffee was delivered, and a supportive LAPD officer stopped by to make sure we weren’t endangering ourselves. Interestingly enough, some of the most enthusiastic honking came from Iraqi cab drivers.
The four of us with Jane were the only fans in the area; all the others on strike were writers and kept asking us what show we were on! We had to keep explaining that we were fans, not TV writers. Everyone was friendly and relaxed, and they didn’t treat us any differently when they found out we were fans. It was a unique and special experience, just hanging out on a street corner listening to them chat about the sort of random everyday stuff people talk about when stranded on a street corner with their friends. Frankly, I wish that’s how I could meet everyone I admire from Firefly; not as a part of a crowd on the other side of a table, but simply as relaxed human beings.
Our feet got sore, we got adept at blocking the sun with our picket signs, and we smiled and waved a lot. One guy from from BSG got his hands on a bag of microwave popcorn and shared it with us, assuring us it tasted better because it was “Galactica popcorn.” It *was* good, too!
I would encourage anyone who can to lend a hand; the Firefly writers have given a lot to the fans not only through their writing but by showing up at conventions and blogging and otherwise giving us what is important to us. This represents a rare opportunity to repay the favors by helping out with something that is important to them.
They are out of work, and required to spend a shift every day standing out in the elements holding a sign. Popular media is ignoring them, and so far no quick or easy end to the strike is in site. Whether it’s a compassionate honk or wave, an encouraging letter or blog post, a tray of cookies, or spending a shift on strike…let them know you support them. They’ll appreciate it.
www.fans4writers.com has all the information you need about the strike and how you can support it, from standing on the lines yourself to donating money for pizza deliveries to special days for fans to support their favorite shows. Give it a look!
