Actors, comedians and late-night hosts know best that without the vast armada of screenwriters and punchline writers in the film and entertainment industry, nothing happens. So it’s no wonder that the current US screenwriters’ strike is met with great sympathy from those celebrities who would be left stranded without the members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA).
Since the beginning of the Hollywood general strike, numerous prominent US stars have spoken out with supporting statements, some even taking to the streets with the protesting professional writers.
Actor Rob Lowe (59) was at the forefront of a march by protesting authors in front of the Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Together with his son John Owen (28), who also works as a screenwriter, among other things, he mingled with the people to demonstrate his solidarity with the strikers.
He explained his support to members of the press as follows: “It’s important to support the creative people who make all this possible. We are only as good as the texts we get.”
Star moderator Jimmy Fallon (48) is also on the side of the striking authors’ guild. In an interview at the Met Gala in New York, he had signaled his support even before the strike officially began. There he stated: “Without my writers I wouldn’t have a show and I fully support them.” When asked if a strike would also see the lights go out on his legendary “Tonight Show,” he said, “Yes, I think it will.”
Actress Amanda Seyfried (37) also expressed solidarity at the Met Gala with clear words: “I don’t understand what the problem is. Everything has changed with streaming and everyone has to be paid for their work. It’s damn easy. Like that always… fingers crossed.”
“Two and a Half Men” star Jon Cryer (58) not only supports the strike with words, but also grabbed the protest sign himself and went with many other demonstrators to the Radford Studio Center in Los Angeles. The actor was at the forefront of the protests during the last major scriptwriter strike 15 years ago.
Actress and “Avengers” star Elizabeth Olsen (34) also made her understanding of the current authors’ protests clear, but emphasized in an interview with “Variety” that actors are also affected by the changed industry conditions.
There she said: “We have to structurally rethink how people at all levels can continue to make a living now that we have these streaming services. Actors who used to be able to live off their royalties can’t now because they are for get paid one day. Then the film gets streamed and they don’t watch a penny after that.”
