The Outfit: A Collective of Chicago Crime Writers

by Sean Chercover

As I’m sure you’ve heard, the Writers Guild of America is still on strike. Even though I have personal financial reasons to want this strike over, I stand firm on the side of the WGA.

In case you haven’t been following the story, here’s a video that explains the basic WGA position (which is extremely reasonable, in my opinion):



If that was too compliated, here’s the WGA position, as explained by a five-year-old:




Just to be fair, let's listen to some voices of uncertainty from the other side of the bargaining table:



Okay, now it’s all clear as . . . (not "mud", because that would be a cliché . . . something else that isn’t mud, but also isn't clear . . . something that the reader doesn't expect, but that makes perfect sense . . . damn, I wish the writers weren’t on strike; they could give me a great simile):

Speaking of a world without writers, check out these classic movie lines, revised:



But seriously, we realize that this strike is hard on everyone. Here’s a look at how the strike is harming others in Hollywood (WARNING: offensive language):




Okay, maybe that was harsh. But you know, despite the acrimony, we all want to see a happy ending to this thing, and the next video should warm your cockles:



And finally, there’s the "Writers Strike Dance" guy (if anyone can explain this, please send me an email. And if the Writers Strike Dance Guy is reading this, can you hook me up?):



So what can you do to help?

Well, you can visit www.unitedhollywood.com to learn more and get involved. You can give things other than DVDs for Christmas (or whatever) this year.

Or, you can just surf around YouTube and enjoy more entertaining videos about the strike. It beats the hell of whatever's left on television these days.