With Deal Reached, Hollywood Writers Are Feeling Optimistic

The Writers Guild of America, the union that represents more than 11,000 screenwriters, reached a tentative deal with entertainment companies Sunday night to resolve a lengthy strike that had consumed Hollywood and had helped kick off a summer of high-profile labor actions. The strike officially ended just after midnight last night.

Earlier this week, I went to Swingers, a retro diner where the comedian and game-show host Drew Carey has been picking up the tab for striking W.G.A. members. The longtime Hollywood haunt, often seen onscreen, had become a different kind of “writers’ room” during the walkout, my colleague Corina Knoll reported in July.

The lunch crowd was sparser than it had been before the deal was announced, but writers were still there, chatting in booths or sitting at tables on the sidewalk enjoying their last free salads, gluten-free blueberry pancakes and eggs. Although there was lingering uncertainty — thousands of actors were still on strike, and the finer points of the writers’ new contract agreement were not yet widely known — the mood was one of optimism about the future of screenwriting, and intense relief after a protracted period of hardship.

“It felt pretty bleak” during the strike, said Tammy Golden, who has written for television shows including “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” “Like with Covid, you kind of forget that this will end at some point.”

Her plate of French toast, she added, was the first meal she had eaten at a restaurant “in a long, long time.”

Ken Kristensen, who sat across from her in a booth, said that he and his wife were both striking writers, which had led to intense scrimping and dipping into savings. Now he looked forward to being able to pay down credit card balances and tax bills, and to getting back to work as soon as the guild allowed. “Day 1,” he said with a smile.

Kristensen and Golden said they were confident that the deal would be a good one for them, in part because the guild was exuberant over it, while the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, was, as my colleagues put it, conspicuously not doing a victory lap.

Kristensen said he cherished the experience of being on the picket lines, reconnecting with co-workers and old friends. He brought his son, who is in elementary school, to join the protests.

“He’s going to be a union leader,” Golden said.

For Richey Jones and Todd Jones, brothers and writing partners, the sense of camaraderie among writers of all stripes was a bright spot from the past few months.

“I don’t think there will ever be another time in my life that I’m able to connect with writers like during the strike,” Richey said as he finished up breakfast outside the diner.

“You have different races, different levels — from rookies to rock stars,” Todd added. “Everyone’s kind of equal on the lines.”

Todd said he was impressed by the level of solidarity from other unions this time, compared with the guild’s previous strike in 2007 and 2008. The brothers said they planned to join the striking actors on their picket lines.

With the actors still out, much of the industry remains at a standstill. No talks are currently scheduled between the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and the studios. That means many “below the line” workers and vendors — crew members, caterers, set decorators — will continue to feel a squeeze.

“I think we’re trying to look on the bright side of things,” said Dan Schultz, the vice president of Prop Heaven, which rents props to a variety of productions. Given that writers will now have to “start from scratch” in many cases, he said, it’s unlikely that many productions will be shooting before Hollywood slows down for the holidays.

“I’m preparing for the first of the year,” Schultz said.

Nevertheless, he said, things were moving in the right direction.

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Where we’re traveling

Today’s tip comes from Aletta Sauer:

“I would recommend Humboldt County as a destination, and not only for the amazing redwood forests of Humboldt Redwoods State Park (and Grizzly Creek and Prairie Creek); water sports are wonderful here. Kayaking on Humboldt Bay, and along the coastline, such as in Shelter Cove, Su Meg State Park and Big Lagoon, is as lovely and interesting as the Channel Islands, but far less crowded and less expensive, and not nearly as distant as the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington. Add in all of the public art, from bridge piers and highway overpasses to more and more building murals from a range of artists. While I live in the woods of southern Humboldt, it seems like every time I’ve gone to Eureka, new street art is appearing.”

Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Email your suggestions to [email protected]. We’ll be sharing more in upcoming editions of the newsletter.

Tell us

Our California playlist is ever evolving, based on your recommendations of songs that best represent the Golden State.

You can email us your choices at [email protected]. Please include your full name, the city where you live and a few sentences about why your song deserves inclusion.

And before you go, some good news

The Baja-style fish tacos at El Pueblo Mexican Food are famous across Southern California for their harmonious balance of crisp breading, tender fish and rich chipotle sauce. They are also only $1.19 a pop.

El Pueblo, a family-owned chain of restaurants in northern San Diego County, has long been known for its bargain deals. When they opened in 2010, the owners sold the tacos for 99 cents each, and — excluding a much protested (and later revoked) $1 increase to the price of the tacos in 2019 — they have committed to keeping their prices low, a source of endless speculation from customers new and old.

Jill Replogle, a journalist with LAist, recently embarked on a journey to put the question to rest. Follow her on an in-depth culinary investigation of El Pueblo’s beloved fish tacos as she seeks to answer how the delicacy, despite its quality and its undying popularity, has remained so cheap.

Thanks for reading. We’ll be back tomorrow.

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword.

Soumya Karlamangla, Maia Coleman and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at [email protected].

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