Brittany Woodside
One of my favorite photos I took on the first day of the WGA Strike at WB.
“It has been beautiful to see the camaraderie and support that all of the unions have for each other during this summer, but I am looking forward to the day when they finally have their contract that they have been fighting so hard for and can get back to doing the jobs that they love.”
Photography & Writing by Brittany Woodside
Starting on Day One of the WGA Strike, I went out to the Warner Bros picket line to document the day with my camera. I wanted to make it to every picket location I could before it ended. I wanted to capture as many people as I could walking the lines, as I didn't know how long the strike would go on. My goal was twofold: to document the strike for the people out there fighting for their careers and to gift them these photos to remember their courage and strength during this time. On the first day, several picketers assumed I was associated with one of the Trade magazines, which led me to start wearing the hat that I wear every time I go out (the now iconic blue pLAnts bucket hat, currently adorned with ever-increasing pins from the various themed pickets I’ve photographed).
Day One of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the president of the union, Fran Drescher, stopped by WB.
Over 120 days have gone by since the WGA went on strike. Recently, SAG-AFTRA has officially joined the lines with their own strike, but their presence isn’t new. I have photographed many SAG-AFTRA members since Day One. Other unions have also joined on the lines to show their solidarity, from The Animation Guild, to Teamsters, UTLA, nurses, IASTE, city workers, hotel workers, and everyone in between. And their support doesn’t go unnoticed. Many members of the WGA & SAG-AFTRA have joined other unions when they are picketing or having their own rallies. After 120+ days, the energy out on the lines hasn’t wavered. There continues to be themed pickets and show reunions every day, increasing their resolve to fight.
Not being a member of either union, I started documenting the strike from the outside. But during these months and thousands of photos later, I have found a community that I am proud to be a member of. It has been beautiful to see the camaraderie and support that all of the unions have for each other during this summer, but I am looking forward to the day when they finally have their contract that they have been fighting so hard for and can get back to doing the jobs that they love. Until then, I will be out there taking photos in my blue hat.
See more of Brittany’s work here.
A few weeks into the strike, meetups started happening on the picket lines. This one is from the Black Writers meet up at the Walt Disney Studios.
President of the WGAW, Meredith Stiehm spoke at the Genre Queens picket at the FOX studios picket line, celebrating the women writing in the sci-fi & fantasy genres. Meredith was one of several women labor leaders who spoke that day.
On a Friday evening, many Los Angeles unions gathered in Downtown LA to rally for fair contracts across the city.
At every picket line I see other unions out supporting the strikes.
One of the largest meetups on the picket lines was at WB when The Animation Guild showed up to show their support for the WGA in May.
The first day of Pride Month there was a Pride Picket filled with color and beautiful drag artists.
During the Native & Indigenous Writers picket at The Walt Disney Studios, Eric Michael Hernandez performed a hoop dance.
On Day 100 of the WGA Strike, the picketers are still going strong.
There was a 9 to 5 themed picket at Netflix that had a drag show, which brought so much fun and joy to the picket line that day.
Another way the WGA has brought attention to their fight was days like Bad Apple Day. This photo is of the picketers rallying before they walked to The Grove to leaflet the Apple Store there.
To keep up spirits and energy, themed pickets have become a big part of picketing. One of my personal favorite themes was the “Zelda: Tears of the AMPTP” picket at Netflix.
At FOX, home to the show The Simpsons, there was a show reunion. This photo is of Matt Groening, the creator of the show, drawing a strike sign (which he did several of for picketers that day). This sign was part of an auction to raise money for The Entertainment Community Fund and sold for $1010! (The whole auction raised over $170,000!!)
Another show reunion happened at Paramount when cast, writers, and crew from across the NCIS Universe came to picket. In this photo is a cast member representing each NCIS show.
One of my favorite photos of the picket line at Paramount Studios.
WGA members out in force picketing The Walt Disney Studio.
It has been a long strike.
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