honestly, Luthien and her descendants don't own the Silmaril because she fought for it or because of weregild or whatever. the weregild situation in the Luthien drama is the weapons of Curufin that Beren takes from him; that's the payment, the weregild, the gold you pay for a wrongdoing. it's Angrist and Curufin's other weapons. not the Silmaril. you need to understand that Tolkien says super explicitly that the Silmaril ownership system is morality (and therefore religiously) based. he declares super clearly, black on white, that the sons of Feanor had right to the Silmarils before that right is forfeited because of their deeds, that presumably meaning Alqualonde's theft of ships and ensuing fight already. that right is forfeited, not as payment, but inherently, metaphysically, which Tolkien also reinforces by having the Valar, authority of Eru in the embodied world, bless them so that only clean hands can touch them. but mind you, what clean and moral hands means is completely arbitrary. the dwarves don't burn for killing Thingol, Beren doesn't burn for killing the dwarves. am I meant to read, say, the dwarves' overreaction to an insult as justified killing, then? as moral? it's okay if they kill someone because he's not giving them what is theirs? it's not possible to construe this narrative unless we understand that its fate is simply not a force of balanced moral judgement, but a force with a specific aim, and it's not possible to make of the story an even field because of it. fate is such that Beren can cross through the girdle; Melian cannot keep him out. in short, the Silmaril's ownership is not a consistent external logic, it's an internal morality that hinges on religious exceptionalism and fatal, near-authorial say-so. remember that Glorfindel is reembodied early explicitly because he aided the divine plan in saving little Earendil: religious favoritism and authorial say-so are a thing (they're the same thing. this is a story, nothing exists that the author doesn't decide. that the in-story divine plan corresponds with the story the author wants to tell and therefore pushes forward with the deus ex machina, that makes it ultimately nothing but Tolkien's say-so). remember also, however, that the final fate Tolkien envisions for the Silmarils is the liberation of their light to remake the world. the imbuing of their beauty for everyone to share. and whatever my opinions on that, it's miles better and a much more apt fate than whatever hoax a rigged religion-based sort of moral ownership represents.
on a serious note regarding the wga strike and (as of 1:50 AM PST 7/13) upcoming sag-aftra strike, dsa-la has a fundraiser called The Snacklist which provides snacks and water on the picket lines here in LA. right now the funds they have will not last through the end of the summer, especially given the current and upcoming heatwaves necessitating more supplies. if you have a couple of dollars to spare it's a great way to directly support the writers (and potentially the actors) during this difficult time!
happy first sag-aftra strike in 60 years to all who celebrate.
if you are an enjoyer of media (which i will guess based on your presence on tumblr that you are) please consider donating to the snacklist (linked above) or to any of the following mutual aid funds that directly support striking actors/writers, IATSE and teamster union members who are also out of work and by and large refusing to cross the picket lines, and nonunion PAs and assistants (like yours truly) who are directly impacted by the work stoppage. everyone in this industry works unbelievably hard to bring you the shows, movies, webseries, and variety programs that you enjoy and every worker deserves a fair contract. any support you can give is extremely meaningful.
The Entertainment Community Fund provides emergency financial assistance to anyone in the entertainment industry who is unable to pay their immediate basic living expenses such as housing, food, bills, and healthcare.
The Union Solidarity Coalition has been formed by members of the wga, sag, and the dga to help cover the cost of healthcare for IATSE and teamsters who will not get enough work hours to qualify for their coverage this year due to their refusal to cross a picket line.
The Hollywood Support Staff Relief Fund (also run by the Entertainment Community Fund but separate from the above link which supports all film and tv workers) offers assistance to tv and film support staff and assistants who are not protected by a union and have been displaced from low or entry level positions.
Drive 4 Solidarity is an IATSE organized event in August raising funds for all union and guild members. Tickets are available for those in socal but donations are being taken as well.
Humanitas Groceries for Writers fund provides WGA members with grocery gift cards.
Green Envelope Grocery is a grocery fund for all workers in the entertainment industry regardless of union status.
This. Is my pride and joy. A gift for my dad, who played Zork with me when I was a kid, and with his dad when he was a kid. I designed this pattern myself and had a great time puzzling out how to hide the glow in the dark letters!
Pattern: “West of House” by me
Fabric: 2x1 on 18ct Blue-Grey Aida
Started: 11/27/2021
Finished: 12/25/2021
I see Hollywood is now very into the idea of buying something once and then owning it forever and being able to make infinite copies. Which. Isn’t quite the message they imparted upon me in my childhood. In the spirit of their own long-held stance:
what black mirror episode are we in now
ALT
I s2g if I hear anyone bitching when shit stops coming out bc of these strikes I'm gonna start stabbing. This is insane and I hope they keep striking until the studios are so desperate they're ready to give them everything they ask.
Honestly, I might bitch when stuff doesn't come out. Because if the studios would pay fairly and not force the creatives, whose work I enjoy and want more of, to stop work to gain a baseline level of respect for creating something people want to buy this wouldn't be happening. Bitch about the strikes all you as long as you're clear it's the studios that are preventing anything coming out.
So yeah, I might complain about how the AMPTP hasn't rolled over and let them have their way. It's not the actors who are to blame for the strike, just as it's not the studios responsible for the work you love.
History cares about the artists not their patrons. Who paid for Leonardo's paints? Who cares? They didn't produce the Mona Lisa.
Ok yeah that bitching is totally valid and I'll be doing it too.
during the wga/sag-aftra strike, we may see:
- film in other countries continuing as usual, but those actors/writers are NOT crossing picket lines! other countries unions often have rules where they can’t strike in solidarity with american unions.
- new indie movies separate from hollywood studios. indie movies can continue as usual too, and may even use union actors if they follow certain guidelines and/or get permission from the union.
- awards shows, although they might look different and may be postponed. if there are award shows during the strike, there’s a chance they will just be live conferences announcing winners with no celebrations attached.
- celebrities will not be promoting their work during this time— that WOULD be crossing the picket line! yes, this includes social media. they can still post on social media, as long as it doesn’t pertain to their work.
- a lot more reality tv. this happened the last time there was a writers strike, and it will certainly happen again.
- actors will also not be able to campaign for awards. this awards season is going to be a strange one.
- propaganda from hollywood. they are already trying to flip the narrative by claiming they can break the unions, but they can’t. the strikers have the power. stand with them for however long this takes!
That last comment isn't even a joke they are literally part of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors group.
ALTim having a moment
I will reiterate this on every meme & post I can. The other entertainment unions CANNOT GO ON STRIKE.
Please stop passing these kinds of posts around and understand that it is just not possible. The other Unions are still working under valid contracts. They will only be able to strike when their contracts expire.
There is a process. Most contracts are on a 3 year cycle, but these cycles are not in sync. Some do line up.
You may remember the news that the WGA went on strike, but then the DGA (the directors) took a deal.
Both Unions were in negotiations. The WGA didn't like the deal they were being offered. Their members voted to authorize a strike. They continued trying to negotiate, but couldn't reach an agreeable deal. Their contract ran out, so they went on strike.
Meanwhile, the DGA continued to negotiate, decided their deal was good enough, signed it and did not go on strike.
That's what the whole press conference from SAG-AFTRA was about yesterday, the process. They were at negotiations as long as they could - they even issued a contract extension so they could continue trying to negotiate a deal beyond strike authorization. They were still offered a bad deal, so they went on strike.
That's how it works. Contract -> Negotiations -> Strike Authorization
-> Strike
Unions that are still under contract - including other SAG-AFTRA contracts that cover things like Voice Over, News Anchors, etc, IATSE (costumers, lighting, movie craftspeople etc), MPEG (editors) OPEIU (studio clerks, mail folks, WB tour guides etc)... all of these other unions, and now also the DGA because they signed a deal, are under continuing contracts and CANNOT STRIKE.
I just don't want people to think that because the other unions are not striking, doesn't mean we're not supportive. If we strike while under working contracts, we can and WILL be replaced.
One more important thing that solidarity means: If the actors get a good deal and SAG goes back to work but the WGA remains on strike, I don't want to hear anyone saying "WGA should settle so we can all go back to work." I want every single one of you to put the blame on the networks (where it belongs!) for trying to pit the unions against each other. If they make a deal for the actors but don't for the writers, that's still their fault that the system remains stopped.
Yes, yes, yes! THIS!!!
The bad deals are the fault of the producers and executives. We stand with one another no matter what!
It is likely that one union will get a deal they accept first because the Studios like to negotiate with only one Union at a time. So whoever gets a good deal first, GREAT! But we do not ask anyone to take a lesser deal just to get back to work.
Each Union gets to decide what deal they will take.
sag-aftra press conference.
In case you missed it, SAG-AFTRA just finished up a press conference where they talked to union members and the press about what's up.
Here are the big things (that I remember):
- The deadline extension from June 30 to July 12 was made in good faith on SAG-AFTRA's part. They thought the AMPTP would utilize the extra time to come to the table with a fair deal. They did not. It is suspected that they wanted the extension to have more time to promote their summer blockbusters.
- The studios wanted to be able to have AI scans of background actors. These actors would be paid once, and then the studios would be able to keep the actors' likeness, use the data for eternity without the actors' consent, and never pay them again. Keep in mind that only two percent of SAG-AFTRA members are big names. This proposal would've affected the other ninety-eight percent of members, many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck at the moment.
- The AMPTP tried to turn union membership against Fran Drescher (current union president) by circulating a picture of her "living it up" in Italy with Kim Kardashian. This was a work obligation on Drescher's part. She's a brand ambassador for a fashion line, and whenever she wasn't on set, she was working with the negotiation committee via Zoom and text.
- The video that was sent out to union members on June 28, in which they were told that the negotiations were going well, was filmed before the negotiations got to the core issues – AI, residuals, etc.
- The AMPTP's deal was "disrespectful and egregious."
- The other labor unions in the industry stand in solidarity with each other.
- Fran Drescher called the AMPTP's plan to wait out the WGA until they were homeless "unnecessary evil."
- While SAG-AFTRA is open to returning to the negotiating table at any time, leadership was signaled that the AMPTP was not interested; they believe the strike could last for a while.