'A show of solidarity'

Picket lines form at the College of Santa Fe campus as the Hollywood writers' strike comes to New Mexico

Robert Nott | The New Mexican

12/12/2007 -

The Hollywood writers' strike came to Santa Fe on Wednesday morning when roughly 25 writers and supporters picketed outside Garson Studios on the College of Santa Fe campus.

Though the studio is housing the film production office for Brothers, a drama starring Tobey Macguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal, the day's shooting was at separate, undisclosed location, and the two and a half hours of picketing did not affect the production.

Carrying placards reading "Viva La Huelga!" (strike), "We Write, They Wrong" and "It All Starts With the Writer," the pickets marched in a circle, breaking ranks to let cars pass.

"This is a friendly reminder," said Santa Fe-based screenwriter Danny Rubin, who wrote the movie comedy Groundhog Day. "There seems to be an impression in the New Mexico film community that the strike doesn't have an impact here. But that's not true. It does."

Screenwriters in the Writers' Guild of America went on strike Nov. 5 against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers seeking a larger percentage of revenue from DVD and online distribution of their work. Writers formed picket lines at that time outside studios, sound stages and media corporations in New York and Los Angeles.

According to screenwriter Kirk Ellis and other writers on the Santa Fe line, Wednesday's action marked the first picketing between the two coasts. A union representative said nationwide picketing by members is slated to begin elsewhere today.

The producers alliance has dug in its heels on the issue of offering DVD residuals beyond the 4 cents for a $19.99 DVD that writers currently get as well as royalties on new-media distribution, including online streaming. "We acknowledge we don't know what those figures are, but we want a fair percentage," Ellis said. "If there's truly no profit at all, then fine, we want 2.5 percent of that."

The picketing began around 8:30 a.m. Roughly 90 minutes later, campus security officers, backed by a Santa Fe Police Department officer, asked the strikers to move to the college's entrance on St. Michael's Drive since the studio grounds are considered private property. The pickets complied.

Actor Wes Studi, a Santa Fe resident, joined the line on St. Michael's Drive. "It's a show of solidarity," he said. Studi, who said he has just wrapped up two films, may be slated to start filming another one in January. But he said he would not cross a WGA picket line to get to a film set.

Timothy J. Lea, a WGA member from Los Angeles, was on hand to offer common-sense tips on how to conduct a peaceful protest. He said Wednesday's action was not intended specifically to disrupt the Brothers shoot. Rather, he said, it was to remind the industry the writers can and will picket film productions anywhere in the country, and it should attract the attention of Gov. Bill Richardson.

Several pickets suggested the governor get involved by either helping to broker a fair deal or joining their ranks on the line.

Film production in the state could be impacted by picketing if members of other unions refuse to cross a line. Moises Ortega, the business agent and president of Teamsters Local 492 in Albuquerque, said the local has permission to let its members honor strike lines set up by WGA members in New Mexico. "If they do make that choice, they are protected from suffering disciplinary action," Ortega said.

"Obviously, when the Teamsters don't go to work, the effect is more immediate than when writers don't go to work — equipment doesn't move," he added.

According to the New Mexico Film Office Web site, Brothers is being produced by Relativity Media, Michael De Luca Productions and Palomar Pictures. Wolf Schneider, unit publicist for the movie, said the company does not expect any work stoppage because of the strike. She declined to say how long the production would film in New Mexico.

The picketing at the college attracted the attention of passing motorists on St. Michael's Drive.

"We got some honks, and we got a couple of birds," screenwriter Matthew McDuffie said. "But it's clear people are fascinated by it. It seems like something you'd see in New York or Los Angeles, not out here."

Ellis said the group plans to picket New Mexico-based productions at least through the end of the week. And if the strike continues into next year, he said, "we'll be here."

Robert Nott can be reached at 986-3020 or rnott@sfnewmexican.com.