Star Trek Writer Talks Themed Picket
Last Friday May 19, a group of WGA Authors were able to perform an incredible act of solidarity across generations. In front of the Paramount offices, a star trek-Thematic pickets were convened, disseminated by word of mouth and used invitation-only channels. Over the course of the four-hour picket line, actors, crew members and of course writers and many others met star trek The fans showed their solidarity. Carlos Cisco, one of the authors of Star Trek: Discovery and a strike captain, took some time to talk to me on the phone about what it took to prepare for the strike that day and why star trek is a iconic franchise for this movement.
Cisco first explained that during the WGA strike 2007–2008, There were a few thematic pickets – including one star trek Pickets, but that was before the JJ Abrams movies, and hike had left television entirely with the conclusion of Pursue two years earlier. This year “Kiley Rossetter [a Story Editor on Star Trek: Picard] had seen a lot star trek Writers on the phone,” Cisco explainedand from there it seemed natural to bring people on board star trek thematic pickets. It was huge in 2007, and Cisco was sure it was going to get even bigger now. “All these people are still there and working. What an event it would be to bring all these writers from different generations together.”
And it was. Apart from the large participation of authors and actors from across the franchise, with the crowd included People like David Weddle, Jeri Ryan, Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jonathan DeLuca, and Michael Okuda. Support came from everywhere. “We wanted to send the message that we are all brave and united here. All these different artists from different disciplines, writers, actors, production designers, craftsmen, all those things, and we just wanted to keep the focus on worker solidarity,” Cisco said.
star trek has one of the most pro-union TV episodes ever, according to Cisco -“The Bar Association” out of Deep Space Nine, written by Robert Wilson. “star trekAs a kind of philosophical concept, it represents where we want to be in terms of a more equal and egalitarian society. Even in his own universe, the characters are imperfect and society is always challenged, which I think is a good reminder that we shouldn’t get complacent even when we think we’re living in good times. As a series, it has always pushed the boundaries of representation and diversity throughout its history. It doesn’t always hit the mark by historical standards, but I think when it’s current it always pushes those boundaries. And I think for me that’s what makes the franchise so powerful.”
When asked what people can do to help while the strike is ongoing, Cisco said that providing water to the pickets — especially as strikes are expected to extend into the summer months — would be one of the best ways to support the pickets directly. He also mentioned that donations should go to the Entertainment Community Fund, which is helping non-WGA entertainment workers lose their jobs while the WGA is on strike. “If you want to support the authors, support the people who support us all.”
“None of us want to do that, but it’s necessary. And given the solidarity we have from all the other guilds, from people in the community, from those who are pre-WGA aspiring writers, and even from people who just like TV… This fight is the same fight right now like all other struggles in the workplace,” Cisco said. “In many ways [this action] will be something of a precursor to many other things that other unions deal with. I think this is the case [strike] will have a big impact on that.”
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