The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike for a month now, as screenwriters demonstrate in the hopes of getting fairer pay, better working conditions, regulations on the use of AI, and more. A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin is fully behind the writers, and has sounded off before about the importance of their fight; in addition to writing books, Martin has worked in Hollywood for years, so he knows the territory.
Until now, we haven’t seen Martin on the picket line, but that changed last week, as he and other writers shut down a couple of productions in Martin’s native New Mexico.
Last week the Writers Strike reached the Land of Enchantment, with picket lines in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe that shut down a couple of shoots. https://t.co/tYicArQtoU pic.twitter.com/MOyCjOzsCB
— George RR Martin (@GRRMspeaking) May 29, 2023
That’s Martin with The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman and author Nnedi Okorafor, who wrote the fantasy series Who Fears Death; Martin is working with Okorafor to turn Who Fears Death into an HBO show.
George R.R. Martin: “Never never ever cross a picket line”
The strike has shut down or delayed many productions; we haven’t seen the affects yet, but when we don’t have any scripted series to watch in a few months time, this is why.
Despite this, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has yet to come back to the table, according to Martin. “There’s nothing to do but redouble our efforts,” he wrote on his Not a Blog. “The issues here are too important for anything less.”
"I hope you’re with us. If so, HONK when you see our signs, in LA or SF or anywhere else. And never never ever cross a picket line."
One show that isn’t shutting down production is House of the Dragon, which is currently filming its second season. All the scripts for season 2 were already written before the strike went into effect, so HBO is pushing forward. However, this does mean that writers can’t give notes on set, which could affect the final product. We’ll know more when new episodes drop next year.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels