What we have been calling the "Union Solidarity Fund" is now officially called the Writers Guild Foundation Industry Support Fund. Our friends at the Foundation have stepped up to coordinate the tremendous outpouring of generosity from businesses, fans, writers, actors, directors and the public to help non-WGA professionals affected by the strike. We will link to information on how to apply for assistance as soon as it is on the Foundation site.

The Foundation is accepting donations now. Send them to 7000 W. Third St. LA 90048, and indicate "Industry Support Fund."

The Industry Support Fund, founded by the Writer's Guild Foundation to provide financial relief to non-WGA industry members impacted by the strike, has raised over a quarter million dollars, and has already given away more than half of what they've raised. The fund anticipates continuing to donate $40,000 - $45,000 a month over the next several months as industry members find their feet financially.

The Writer's Guild Foundation is working closely with the Actor's Fund to help distribute the money. Separately, The Actor's Fund has spent half a million on strike-related relief since the beginning of the strike. A non-profit that offers an array of services to all performing arts professionals, The Actor's Fund is not just for actors. For more information check out their website at www.actorsfund.org.

To find out how to get help from the Industry Support Fund, or to make a donation, go to www.wgfoundation.org/supportfund.html.

StrikeSwag.com - the non-profit site which donates all profits to the Writers Guild Foundation Industry Support Fund to assist non-WGA members of the industry who are in financial distress as a direct result of the strike - is out with its January 2008 line which Fashion Week boldly called "the black and white shield tee." This 100% cotton shirt a variant of the official WGA West strike shirt.

Strike TV is an Internet fundraiser. It's an online "channel" featuring original video shows created by working professionals in the TV and Film Industry. These shows are self-funded and owned by their creators. Funds raised by ad revenue will go toward the Writers Guild Foundation Industry Support Fund, assisting union directors, actors and below the line members who are affected by the strike.

Tomorrow night Jerry O'Connell ("Carpoolers," "Crossing Jordan") Kerri Kenney ("Reno 911," "The Ten," "The State"), and stand-up comedian Dan Mintz (writer, "Luckie Louie") will perform in Talk Show: The Talk Show at iO West Theater. Half the proceeds go to the Industry Support Fund - a fund set up by the WGA for non-WGA members affected by the strike.

Here are the details:
11pm THIS FRIDAY,

HUMANITAS PRESENTS: “THAT’S NOT FUNNY! TURNING LIFE’S LITTLE TRAGEDIES INTO COMEDY”
TO BENEFIT WGA INDUSTRY SUPPORT FUND FOR NON-WGA MEMBERS

Join us for the panel discussion “That’s Not Funny! Turning Life’s Little Tragedies Into Comedy” and the book signing of five-time Humanitas Prize winner Gary David Goldberg's autobiography Sit, Ubu, Sit: How I Went from Brooklyn to Hollywood with the Same

As the Industry Support Fund and The Actors Fund (which administers the ISF) continue to help industry workers who lost income and health care coverage during the strike, we offer this helpful post from freelance journalist and United Hollywood lover Becca Bryan. -TES

DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN! THE ACTORS FUND IS THERE FOR EVERYONE.

by Becca Bryan

As someone who has lost a few

This article was submitted by WGA member Michael Arkof. It runs today in Writers: On The Line, a weekly print newsletter distributed at picket locations.
AND A CHILD SHALL READ THEM

Sabrina Batchler didn’t write the book on supporting the WGA strike, but she is reading one. Lots of them, actually. The eleven year-old is conducting a Read-a-thon to raise money for the Writers Guild Foundation, to

It's Thanksgiving week, and in the spirit of that we hope all our readers will take some time to help those in need to whatever extent they can.

The excellent LiveJournal community wga_supporters recently ran this note from David Rambo of CSI:

Life on Strike was originally produced for The Strike Show, a live comedy-variety show that raised money to benefit members of the industry who are affected by the strike via the Motion Picture and Television Fund. and features Ana Ortiz (UGLY BETTY), Nick Kroll, (CAVEMEN), and Kat Foster (TIL' DEATH).

Hot in Hollywood and Strike Swag have teamed up to produce limited edition Benjamin Silverman High School t-shirts.

Orders placed by Monday the 14th will be ready in time for the Benjamin Silverman High School Winter Prom outside NBC on Thursday the 17th. Profits from the sale of these shirts will benefit the WGA Foundation Industry Support Fund.

See you at Prom. Go Fightin' Cocks!

Cast from THE OFFICE: Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez and Ed Helms, along with Kate Walsh (GREY'S ANATOMY, PRIVATE PRACTICE), Mo Collins (MAD TV), and Robert Ben Garant (RENO 911) join the cast of the "Armando Show" at iO Theater to raise money for the Industry Support Fund.

Cast from THE OFFICE backstage at the show:

Kate Walsh:

Robert Ben Garant:

A special message from organizer

Jeff Berman also spoke to SAG President Alan Rosenberg at Friday's BAND AID concert to benefit the Industry Support Fund:

Of note: Rosenberg reads a letter from Academy Award nominee Viggo Mortensen stating that he will not cross any picket line at the Oscars.

If at approximately 12:10pm tomorrow, Nick Counter reverts to his true form (a writhing pile of worms), well, he was warned. -JAWe, the horror writers of the WGA, don't necessarily believe that the AMPTP is evil. Rather, we believe they've been invaded by evil spirits whose devilish agenda is the destruction of our Guild. For this reason we have decided to conduct this exorcism for the mutual benefit of this industry. We may be dark souls, but we do believe that good eventually triumphs over evil.

We encourage our brothers and sisters in horror to join our procession by emailing Jace Anderson at creepymofo [at] roadrunner [dot] com or Scott Kosar at scottkosar [at] mac [dot] com. And, of course, we welcome ALL writers to come and support our fight at Warners Gate 4, Tuesday at noon.Today was the toy drive, tomorrow the demon drive.

Friday night, a benefit comedy concert featuring Tenacious D., Eddie Izzard, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt and Andy Dick was held at UCLA. All proceeds from the event went to the WGA Union Solidarity Fund to suport those affected by the strike.

But even if you weren't able to attend, StrikeSwag.com gives you a way to both get a great souvenir from the event and help those in need. All profits from each one of the shirts pictured here - and all items on Strike Swag - will be donated to the Fund.

So stock up and stuff a stocking!

HOOT, HOLLER AND LAUGH WITH STRIKING WGA MEMBERS AT iO WEST THEATER

While the more than eight-week old WGA strike is anything but funny, the staff at iO WEST is standing up and speaking out to provide some relief for the writers in the form of comedy and donations.

In a show of solidarity, every Monday during the month of January, iO WEST’s hit show, “The Armando Show,” will be donating half

We're continuing to post interviews with writers, directors, and actors, in support of the strike. Please check in at Voices4Action! to hear Billy Ray talk about the emotional and financial toll the strike has taken on the community.

At today’s Los Angeles City Council meeting, over 300 writers and supporters came to hear Councilmember Eric Garcetti speak to the City Council about the writers strike, and the need to bring the AMPTP back to the table so negotiations can resume.
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The AMPTP did not bother to send a representative, apparently feeling that the $20 million a day damage to the Los Angeles economy is more the City Council's problem than theirs.

Garcetti introduced an emergency motion asking for both parties to resume bargaining, and to come to a just and fair deal as quickly as possible. He also pointed out that the writers are still at the bargaining table, ready to negotiate, and called specifically on the AMPTP to return as well.

THE WRITER'S OF FOX'S MAD TV ARE PUTTING ON A SHOW!

Original sketches written and performed by the writing staff of MAD TV to benefit the show's script department (which was put out of work because of the
strike.)

All fans of the show are encouraged to attend for a fun-filled night of hilarity. Hell, who are we kidding, even if you hate the show, we want you to come!

WHEN: Monday, January 14th

"Ravensridge" tells the story of a striking steelworker who must travel to Russia to pressure the owner of his factory to end the strike. Runs from Feb 23 - Mar 30. Fremont Center Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena. For more information call 866-811-4111 or go to theatremania.

The LA Times carried the story this morning of the "debate" staged by striking WGA writers, held for the benefit of politicians in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The writers came to educate and inform D.C., in the way that only these guys can.

A small excerpt:

On one side, in shirts, was the striking Writers Guild of America, played by "Daily Show" writers Rob Kutner, Tim

Compiled from WGA and United Hollywood emails. -JA

TUESDAY DECEMBER 11TH:

PENCILS2MEDIAMOGULS: It's here! The first delivery of pencils will take place today. Over 500,000 pencils have been shipped. Please join us as we deliver the pencils to NBC CEO Jeff Zucker, Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and to Universal Studios for GE's CEO Jeffrey Immelt. Writers slated to appear include: Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Joss Whedon (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly), Carol Barbee (Jericho), Alfred Gough (Smallville), Miles Millar (Smallville). We will meet at 11:30 am at Johnny Carson Park, 400 Bob Hope Drive in Burbank.

The fans of Criminal Minds have a daily blog, and have been raising funds for the crew and support staff of their favorite show.

The following is letter from Paul Diamond, son of I.A.L. Diamond (Billy Wilder's writing partner, "Some Like It Hot", "The Apartment"). This message was initially meant only for members of his strike team, but with Paul's permission we reprint it here for our readers.Dear Mick -- if you would, pass this on to the other Barham Gate Strikers...

(The following is a letter from the presidents.)

To Our Fellow Members:

Today, it is our pleasure to inform you that members of the Writers Guilds of America, East and West, have voted to ratify the MBA contract with 93.6% approval. With a total of 4,060 votes cast, the tally was 3,802 to 258. These numbers reaffirm the tremendous level of support and commitment our membership has continuously demonstrated over these last few crucial months.

We are also pleased to report that the trustees of our health fund voted yesterday to follow the recommendation in our strike settlement agreement to provide additional coverage and an extension of the earnings cycle for a full quarter (three months) to participants who would otherwise lose health coverage following an earnings cycle that included all or a portion of the strike period. Participants whose health coverage is paid for by points will only be charged points if they have ten or more points as of April 1, 2008.

The WGA just sent out an official email listing a few local businesses that support the strike. We captains have been encouraged to approach businesses in our neighborhoods, tell them what is going on, and ask for their help.

I'd like to expand upon the idea though: If you are a business owner who wants to offer discounts to striking writers, please consider offering discounts to IATSE members and Teamsters who may have been thrown out of work by the conglomerates' refusal to offer a fair deal. We're all in this together.

- Silverlake Yoga is offering a 20% discount to WGA members while the strike lasts.

Masi Oka (Hiro) came to support the writers, along with many of the rest of the cast.

Writers, actors and fans of the show "Heroes" all picketed together at Universal on Tuesday.

Check out the whole album to see everyone together on the lines (and see what Claire's dad looks like without the hornrims.)

photos by Mark.