(We want to welcome SAG Member Justine Bateman as a regular contributor to United Hollywood. We hope to continue opening the site up to more voices from SAG and other unions. Justine reminds us that this fight belongs to all of us. We're all on the same page.)

Attention all SAG Actors:

I believe it's appropriate at this time to call all actors into action in support of the Writer's Guild on strike.
I know many of us have been walking the picket lines and attending the rallies, but I want to challenge ALL SAG members to see if they can commit an HOUR-A-DAY to walking the picket lines.
The AMPTP has been jerking the Writer's Guild around.
1. They offered nothing but insulting Roll-Backs to the WGA in the negotiations that caused the strike.

EW.com has taken a poll on the WGA strike -- 65% of those polled were aware of the strike but not following it closely, and 21% were aware and following closely.

That's 86% of people polled aware that the WGA is on strike. As scripted television ceases to be aired, and as the Oscars loom larger, it seems like awareness will only increase. An earlier poll has shown that the public is solidly

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.

Project Strike Life presents their latest video. Producers, Chris Nolan and Laurie Nolan.

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.

Robert J. Elisberg, WGA Member and contributor to The Huffington Post, wrote a piece excerpted here called, "WGA Strike Primer: Settling a Final Debt."

It's not officially over yet, of course. There still is the matter of approving the contract. It's a 10-day process, a blink by strike standards, but long enough. Arguments of all views will be made, we do know that -- these are writers after all

This piece is by WGA strike captain Alfredo Barrios, a former corporate attorney turned writer. It offers insight into what the AMPTP methods and rationale for undermining the writers' resolve. Thanks to Ashley Gable for submitting this to us. -JA

We’re two months into the strike, and I’ve noticed a certain confusion and fear emanating from certain quarters about how things have been “handled”

"Strike Life" is a new video project produced by Chris and Laurie Nolan. They will be launching their own web site soon, but in the meantime, we wanted to show you their first public episode, "Problem Solved."

In 1988, Joan Didion wrote an essay on the writers' strike. There's a link to a pdf version at los angeles daze -- it's a must-read.

Agree or disagree with how this strike has been waged, she puts her finger on realities that sound eerily familiar, 20 years later -- and on some key differences as well.

Most importantly, the Union Blues writers that she talks about, who broke the back of the '88

On Sunday, from Noon-4:00pm, Angelo Peloni, the owner of La Bruschetta Ristorante, in West LA, celebrated the end of the strike by hosting a buffet lunch for any writer who wanted to stop by. A tradition he started back in 1988 when his friend George Kirgo was the President of the WGA, Angelo and his wife, Susana, generously opened their kitchen and sent out platter after platter of antipasti,

With the assistance of Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? writer Bob Kushell helps you survive your marriage during the Writers' Strike.

Robert J. Elisberg, who writes the regular WGA Strike Primer columns on The Huffington Post, responds below to Michael Cieply's recent article in the New York Times entitled, Writers Strike Tests Mettle of 2 Outsiders.

Last week, Michael Cieply wrote once-again about his perception of “fissures” in the Writers Guild. It’s a theme of his. Back during the 1988 WGA strike he specialized in writing

United Hollywood is proud to announce that FairDeal4Writers has become the first annual United Hollywood Short Film Contest.

Unlike Strike TV, films in this contest will tackle the issues that are roiling the entertainment industry right now. The winner of the contest will receive an authentic WGA strike poster with over 175 signatures by writers, actors, actresses and directors who autographed

We've been hearing from supporters around the world about rallies and picketing in solidarity with our strike against the AMPTP.

An email arrived today from a good friend, Randa Haines (the director of Children of a Lesser God, Something About Amelia, and The Ron Clark Story), describing a very French demonstration of support:

Hello from Paris!

Pickets and rallies all over the states and the world are popping up in support of the writers' strike.

In New Mexico, on the College of Santa Fe campus, writers and supporters gathered.

Here's a link to the news video of the Phoenix picket of local Fox station sent to me by strike captain Teena Booth (who is on camera in the video).

Striking writers and supporters made this video of rallies and pickets in Australia.

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

"Wired" Blog Network has picked up one of our favorite entries to the FairDeal4Writers Contest -- Strike Wars.

It was created by supporter Rubberpoultry from Ohio, with some pretty impressive effects work and a truly epic storytelling sense.

Enjoy the satire. We all need to be able to laugh once in a while.

Proving that walking the picket line stimulates your comic chops, the members of the Strike Club, formerly of Sony's Madison Gate and now keeping watch over the Galaxy Gate at Fox, offer up a short film that pokes a finger in the eye of the faceless congloms.

(From Writer's Assistant, Ed Fowler)

Saturday I went to my mailbox and discovered a very plain envelope with the return address of NBC Universal. Inside it held a simple, single page letter. At the very top, centered in some kind of Helvetica or Ariel font (at least it wasn't Comic Sans) was the very business like heading of:

"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.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin seems dead set on pushing through a wildly unpopular media consolidation policy that would allow media moguls to gobble up more local news, radio, and newspaper outlets. The American people aren't happy about it, and neither are many leading politicians.

How, you ask, is this directly related to the writer's strike against the giant media conglomerates? This policy

This email was just sent to strike captains. It contains info on the NegCom vote, the Board and Council votes, the pending vote to lift the strike, and the pending vote to ratify the contract.

DEAR STRIKE CAPTAINS,

This morning, the WGA Negotiating Committee unanimously and unconditionally recommended the terms of the proposed 2008 MBA to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council. The Board and Council