"Hollywood's blue-collar infrastructure is going to take a beating this weekend."

[AZBlue]

With the Golden Globes, the town's famously party-hearty awards show, now reduced to a glorified news conference because of the writers strike, the couriers who deliver elaborate floral displays to winners, the waiters who keep their glasses filled with champagne, and the drivers who shepherd the drunks home after late-night parties will be sitting idly by — on what is ordinarily one of their most lucrative nights.

(snip)

And Kyser estimates that some $1.4 billion in wages alone have been lost in the region since the strike began.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597537/

I absolutely support the writers' demands - I think they are a no-brainer. However, it's really affecting a lot more people than studio heads and movie stars and no one seems to care about that. Caterers, hotel staff, hairdressers, limo drivers, makeup artists, struggling new-comer designers and stylists, cooks, photographers and cameramen, event managers and staff, on-set food service companies, secretaries, cleaning staff, and so on and so on - they are the blue collar workers who are seriously suffering from this.

[Goat or Panic]

1. Sound Editor here..

My company just had our "Big Meeting". Work pretty much dries up next week. After that, we're on our own.

[AZBlue]

4. I'm so sorry.

Are you TV or film? I've heard film isn't as hurt since projects are signed so far out. Could you switch to film? Of course, I'm sure everyone's thought of that.

I have quite a few friends in the event industry there - they are really struggling.

[Goat or Panic]

5. Television mostly

Strange thing is, once the strike is over, work is going to be crazy. This could be our busiest year ever. If we don't go bankrupt first.

[AZBlue]

7. Well, let's hope that happens soon!

For everyone's sake!

[Retrograde]

2. so what's to keep them from having their party?

Does it make the award any lesser because it's not televised? Any less reason to dress up and receive flowers if no one sees it?

[AZBlue]

3. That's not the point.

Please try to stay on topic.

[Retrograde]

6. seems like it to me

If the Hollywood establishment is really so concerned about lower paid workers, and just isn't trying to drum up sympathy against the writers' strike, they can have their shin-dig, and the valet parkers, caterers, etc. will get paid. The establishment just won't get the ego gratification of seeing themselves on TV.

NBC and the other networks are hurting, and IMHO they're trying to drum up sympathy by moaning about how the strike is really bad for the writers and the "little guys".

[Me.]

8. NBC Is Hurting

That's one network that needs money as Zucker has capably driven it into the ground. Yet, rather than negotiate with the writers he opted to lose at least 10 mil, in revenues for that one night. Where has fiscal responsibility gone? Also it seems they are having to give back money to advertisers. Is anyone in charge?