SCRIPTLAND: Writers finding solace, stories on picket lines

As the Writers Guild tries to fortify itself against the inevitable slow bleed of numbers and commitment among its membership in its fifth week of striking, many gung-ho writers continue to find novel ways of surviving the monotony and social awkwardness of the picket lines.

Notwithstanding the occasional field trip to a location shoot to disrupt filming, most writers have been stuck walking in tight loops in four-hour picketing shifts that can ultimately amount to a daily 10-mile hike. Though the guild leadership has decreased the weekly picketing requirement, the weariness is taking its toll.

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FOR THE RECORD:
Scriptland: The Scriptland column in Wednesday's Calendar section identified the Writers Guild strike captain at Paramount's Bronson gate as Mike Eddy. His name is Matt Eddy. The article also said that a YouTube video featuring screenwriter Irving Brecher was directed by Nell Scovell. Scovell co-wrote and produced the video; it was directed by Rodman Flender. —

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"These picket lines are much more somber," observes Daniel Vaillancourt (MTV's "Undressed"), who compared it to the rowdier lines of last year's unsuccessful "America's Next Top Model" strike. "It's almost like being at a funeral."

"I would recommend buying stock in Dr. Scholl's," cracked Josh Olson ("A History of Violence"), who was literally soaking his feet after a picketing shift when I spoke with him.

On the plus side, one Oscar-winning writer was pleasantly surprised to note that his good cholesterol count has gone up in the weeks that he's picketed.

Numerous feature writers have commented on the TV-film divide out on the lines (not to mention the various showrunner and fringe cable TV cliques). Given the way they are staffed and their collaborative working environment, the TV crews all seem to know each other, breeding an environment that one feature writer describes as "like a big university."

"[TV writers] are truly a different creature," says Alec Sokolow ("Toy Story"), who prefers picketing at Sony because its older crowd tends to be less TV-centric. "They love a certain social herd-like interaction. Most feature writers don't get that opportunity, so you get together and very carefully begin a conversation with somebody, and then decide if somehow it's gonna lead you to more Xan- ax."

"I'm sure a lot of other feature writers have trouble rallying together as a group -- for me it feels like church," says Lorene Scafaria ("Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"), who has picketed on both coasts and prefers the Bronson gate at Paramount for strike captain Mike Eddy's choreographed mayhem. "It's just a little too churchy for me to chant things. But I would say that got washed away after the first time. There was something unifying about it."

On the other hand, younger writers unexpectedly brushing shoulders with more experienced brothers and sisters in both media have been using the opportunity to network and seek career advice. Some film-TV cross-pollinating has occurred as new acquaintances go out to post-picketing lunches -- nothing brings people together quite like the coffee and grease at Bob's Big Boy.

The forced socializing has also been a boon for those looking for fresh romantic entanglements (and, thus, juicy raw material for future black comedies). Like a giant sociology experiment, the vast network of picketing writers has predictably spawned singles lines and gay-centric lines.

One straight male writer puzzled over why all the guys at the NBC Alameda gate were so good-looking. It turns out that he was picketing with the membership of the guild's Gay & Lesbian Writers Committee, coincidentally stationed outside "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" soundstages.

Workshop entails labor amid luxury

The Hollywood screenwriting life rarely involves lounging around a 17th century chateau and ruminating on thematic subtext while French New Wave icon Jeanne Moreau fetches you a snifter of brandy (though I hear development meetings at Gary Sanchez Productions come close). But then, Europeans do a lot of things better. Like eat, argue and juggle affairs.