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Statement from Squeaky McGee Regarding the WGA Strike
November 6, 2007
After consulting my lawyer, Slip Reepaws, Esq., here is my official statement:
As both a writer, producer and photographer, I have had to purr long and hard over my position on the recent WGAE/WGAw strike. On one paw, I feel that the writers' contract is completely out of date and they are more than entitled to 8-cents per DVD and royalties from New Media. YouTube is where I got my start and I couldn't have had the career I did without the help of on-demand internet entertainment. As a member of the Cat Actors Guild, I know that many of us rely on royalties for those times when we're out of work. Why should the producers be so greedy when just a few pennies a DVD could mean so much difference to us? For me, it could mean the difference between Fancy Feast and plain old Whiskas.
But as a producer (and Director of Photography), I understand what it takes to make the top-quality show that cats—and even dogs—have come to expect. Writing is important, but what about distribution, on-set catnip catering and a competent litterbox crew? I remember the last time there was a strike—Rats' Rights '06—and I had to cross the picket line because I just didn't agree that the mice and rats' contracts were being breached. I'll never forget it, I was in the middle of filming "The Nine Lives of Eve" and one day suddenly there weren't any writers on set. As a man of many talents, I improvised and the film was made, but what an inconvenience! If it was up to me, I'd pay them what they're asking, but hey—I didn't make the show business world what it is today, I just work here! With YouTube, blogging and the low-cost of reality filming, anybody can be a writer. Just ask the Anarcho-Ferals living in the alley. I heard they wrote and produced their own reality show "Fleas, Trees and Automobiles."
So ultimately, my position is to not support the strike. I'm currently working on a couple of features as well as my ongoing documentary "Revelations From the Cat Collar," so I cannot afford to grind my productions to a halt just because a couple of writers need to upgrade their brand of litter. Solidarity is one thing, but I must remain true to myself as a cat first and as artist second.
Best,
Squeaky McGee |
See the photos Squeaky took while wearing the camera made famous by Mr.Lee
