WGA Strikes Getting Portrayed Negatively By Press

TV Guide Online wrote about Eddie Murphy walking off the set of his new movie Nowhereland after picketers from the WGA arrived and started protesting.

Eddie Murphy was in the Pacific Palisades yesterday to film his new movie Nowhereland, but when picketers from the WGA arrived, the actor left the set and didn’t return. There were reports that this drew huge cheers from the crowd of around 50 protesters chanting on megaphones and playing music loudly in order to shut down the production. However, I spoke to writer and protester Katherine Butler, who was at the protest and said the writers were being anything but disruptive. “The press is making us sound like we were purposely being obnoxious and disruptive in order to shut down the movie. When, in fact, we were walking in a small circle, occasionally chanting. They even handed out whistles, and no one blew them.”

Butler did not witness Murphy leaving, but did say that, “Ninety-nine percent of us writers know that the problem is not with the [actors], teamsters, grips, sound guys, etc. We really should be focusing on protesting in front of AMPTP [representing the producers] president Nick Counter’s office. We’re aware that we’re not making the actors and crew’s life any easier, but all we’re trying to do is make our point. We had leaders from the protest at the film set yesterday thanking the teamsters and crew for their support and understanding, and relaying to them that our goal is not to be disruptive; it’s only to be heard.”

While it’s clear that production on the movie was suspended for the day, and the WGA is championing Murphy’s actions, there has been no official comment by Murphy’s camp on whether or not his film walkoff was strike-related or not.

Ok, first and foremost, it was a completed script. What possible reason could they have for protesting the move? Now onto specific parts of the comments made by writer and protester Katherine Butler, who was at the protest and said the writers were being anything but disruptive.

“The press is making us sound like we were purposely being obnoxious and disruptive in order to shut down the movie. When, in fact, we were walking in a small circle, occasionally chanting. They even handed out whistles, and no one blew them.”

Again, what possible reason do you have for protesting the filming of a script completed BEFORE the strike? The press is reporting your antics, they speak volumes. You might not have been yelling at this protest, but writers caused enough commotion and disturbance to close down production of Cane and other shows. The script for Nowhereland was bought and paid for BEFORE the strike, so what was the point of this protest?

“Ninety-nine percent of us writers know that the problem is not with the [actors], teamsters, grips, sound guys, etc. We really should be focusing on protesting in front of AMPTP [representing the producers] president Nick Counter’s office. We’re aware that we’re not making the actors and crew’s life any easier, but all we’re trying to do is make our point. We had leaders from the protest at the film set yesterday thanking the teamsters and crew for their support and understanding, and relaying to them that our goal is not to be disruptive; it’s only to be heard.”

Ok, so why aren’t you protesting the AMPTP offices? Hmmm, I think it because they get more press by shutting down shows than they would protesting the AMPTP. So instead of protesting the right people, they take it out on the actors and the crew who are fulfilling their contracts so they can get paid and support their families. By causing these shutdowns, the actors and crew will end up on half-pay or ultimately terminated.

While it’s clear that production on the movie was suspended for the day, and the WGA is championing Murphy’s actions, there has been no official comment by Murphy’s camp on whether or not his film walkoff was strike-related or not.

We will never know, but I don’t think that is why, perhaps he was just annoyed. I bet after all this publicity, Murphy comes out saying he did it to “support the writers”.

I support what the writers want in the way of getting paid part of the profits from online distribution. I understand and I support that. I don’t support their tactics. Causing Cane to close down with scripts left to film jeopardizes a second season pickup for the show. The writers know who they should protest but they continue to take out their anger on the actors and support crew that have nothing do with their contract negotiations.

I know people are going to react negatively to this and think I am attacking the WGA and the strike. I am not, I agree with why they are striking. I just question their methods.