Whatever expectations and fantasies people had they would be back to work after Labor Day have faded. And as the strike crawls towards a settlement (🤞), the human costs mount. This week at The Ankler, we took stock of what the shutdown has meant for those whose lives are on hold. A searing piece by Peter Kiefer and Elaine Low surveyed the wreckage, and a powerful podcast interview with an actress whose life has been shattered by the events put the cost in stark relief. More on all that below…
Meanwhile, for a reminder of what we’re missing right now — the power of our talent — Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts just publicized its pre-strike Women in Focus conference, where Janice moderated a private live panel with the great Tiffany Haddish, Molly Shannon, Megan Mullally, Kerry Ehrin and Yvonne Orji to talk about the state of women in comedy. The audience of enraptured students, dreaming of careers in this industry, were often moved to tears — while also laughing the whole time. Afterwards, they flooded the stage for selfies and autographs. Said Haddish: “I think my whole purpose in life is to bring joy.”
Happening Now!
Now through Labor Day: consider it your real-life thinking cap, free with every new annual paid subscription or gift.
☀️ The Wakeup
As the industry stumbles forward, Sean McNulty brings his GIF-game every a.m. to put it in perspective. Don’t miss this week’s excellent #medianerd exercise breaking down what it will take for Disney’s Bob Iger to get Disney+ to profitability.
🎧 This Week in Podcasts
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Transcript here
Listen here: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts
Transcript here
Listen here: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts
Listen here: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts
🪧 Strikegeist
Remember to reach out to elaine@theankler.com with news and stories, and stay on top of our ongoing labor strife with her daily reporting and analysis.
‘Neither Nothing, Nor Nearly Enough’: WGA Responds to Studios’ Offer
The Great Backfiring: Did This Move Just Add Weeks to the Strike?
‘Existential Dread, But Make It Fashion’: Meet the Writers Behind PicketFits
👓 The Optionist
There’s no better time than downtime to start thinking about your next project. Andy Lewis’ IP newsletter, whose paid subscribers include Oscar and Emmy-winning writers and producers, as well as the town’s development execs, already has had scores of projects discovered and optioned out of his lists.
IP Picks: A Pioneering War Correspondent Biopic Plus, inside the Polly Klaas murder and a forgotten Cold War drama
