Prison Break

Nick Santora on the Writers’ Strike

Things are nuts in LA right now — there is very likely about to be a Writers Guild strike as there appears to be an impasse between the studios and the Guild. I know a lot of you will have questions about it, but to be honest, there are so many complicated issues that I can’t explain them all but if you go to DEADLINEHOLLYWOOD.COM, ARTFULWRITER.COM, UNITEDHOLLYWOOD.COM those 3 sites can give you some insight as to what writers are feeling and if you go to the AMPTP’s website, you can get the studio’s point of view. If a strike happens, PB will air probably through episode 13 … then we’d be on that long break that PB takes every season anyway, and then we’d come back for the second half of the season (that is, of course, if the strike is over) But we’d be behind on scripts and production because, basically, everything shuts down when there is a work stoppage from writers or actors or directors or teamsters or whatever. I didn’t want this strike to happen (still might not happen, but it looks probable) but I support my Guild and the incredibly talented people that are its members and if we go on strike, I support that decision and will not write a word for film or tv until said strike is over. But hopefully it all works out. As many of you have heard me say repeatedly in interviews and when answering your questions … this is a wonderful collaborative art form … writers, directors, actors, art directors, make-up artits, and everyone in between help make film and tv a great way to entertain, educate and inspire. But is seems to me, in my 6 + years in this industry, that sometimes The Powers That Be forget that you can’t produce a blank page, you can’t act a blank page, you can’t direct a blank page. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, the truth is, it ALL starts with the script. If you don’t have the script, you have nothing. That being said, once again, I hope the strike doesn’t happen. I really like the executives I’ve worked with in the studios … like them A LOT. And I hope to get to work with them for a long time. But, until we know how this plays out, I am ready to walk out with my Guild brothers and sisters when the Guild calls for it and stay on strike for as long as it takes — but, again, I hope it doesn’t get to that point. During the strike I probably won’t be online much if at all — there will be Guild meetings, picketing, and lots of other surreal stuff that will be taking up my time … but I appreciate EVERYONE’S support of PB (even those who have critiques of the show, as constructive critiques can help make you a better writer) and I hope that soon I will be reaching out to you with good news about these contract talks. Best, Nick.

Source: PBreakFans & PrisonBreakBuff