Location, Location, Location
For the past couple of days, I’ve done some location picketing. As one might suspect, location picketing involves picketing productions where they’re shooting on location. This is very different from picketing studios, where we’re just walking back and forth in front of a gate. On location picketing, we’re walking on public sidewalks right next to the production. We have interactions with crew members. They talk to us, we talk to them. The chances of a battle ensuing are greater.
Despite the greater tension of doing a location picket, I feel we’re getting more accomplished. We’re actually able to communicate a message to the cast and crew and get our voices heard. Many of them support the WGA’s position, and the whole event is very civil, although a few line producers have pulled the hair out of their head trying to get the cops to make us leave.
Speaking of cops, the LAPD has done great job allowing us to express our 1st Amendment right while balancing complaints from the production.
There’s no more picketing left this year. It will resume January 7th, if necessary.