This podcast episode of “Brian Breaks Character” dropped today with me speaking about the current WGA strike, the state of Hollywood’s creative community and a bit about #GreyGardens #wgaStrong
Check it out. 🔊
Follow
Click to Follow michaelsucsy
Michael Sucsy
@michaelsucsy
Award-winning filmmaker and storyteller. I make movies that make you feel something. My work is about connection, creativity and collaboration. 
Michael Sucsy’s Tweets
I just spent 3 hours on a zoom w the DGA staff and negotiators and while there are some details that could have been even better, I now believe that this is a good deal for us! Thank you all.
Now let’s get a great deal for the WGA !!
Quote Tweet
This! twitter.com/ifyoucantwell/…
2
Big deal!!!! ❤️
Quote Tweet
BREAKING: IATSE gives $2 million to industry charities for support of members affected by ongoing WGA strike iatse.net/iatse-earmarks
Show this thread
1
2
Not to sound dramatic, but streaming ruined one of the most profitable businesses, decimated the livelihood of thousands of writers, and further divided society by robbing them of ongoing stories and shared pop culture experiences that drive connection and empathy.
13
97
489
This!
Quote Tweet
— “Historic” increases don’t keep up with basic projected inflation
— Gaping loopholes in steaming residual increases
— Zero insight into streaming platform viewership numbers
As a DGA member, I vote NO on ratification.
Let’s get real here. TOGETHER. #UnionStrong
1
Directors: as you vote on the AMPTP deal you just need to ask if you *truly* believe the best deal you could possibly/reasonably get was what was offered at midnight last Saturday, before SAG made it overwhelmingly clear that they're prepared to strike at the end of the month.
2
52
241
Show this thread
Since today is National VCR Day,
I wanted to highlight how much screenwriters got paid in the early days of physical media vs. now with streaming. THREAD:
In 1985 the WGA went on strike for two weeks over home video residuals.
6
260
625
Show this thread
A friend of mine, WGA writer/showrunner, is selling his house in Los Angeles & reassessing if this is still a viable career in the day & age of streaming. We picket bc we are fighting for our existence/our way of life. The AMPTP is eviscerating the working middleclass. #WGAstrong
4
In their new book, "Crowned: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora," photographers Kahran and Regis Bethencourt challenge preconceived notions about fairy tale heroines and shatter traditional beauty standards. cbsn.ws/45JrfVH
26
120
222
YouTube video of the podcast I recorded this week with Brian Patacca of Brian Breaks Character where we discuss the WGA strike and the current state of affairs for Hollywood creatives.
1
1
NY Legislators Hint Tax Incentives May Depend On Deal To End WGA Strike – Deadline
1
This is why the guild must stop free work because this work is not free.
It comes with a huge cost.
A huge creative cost. A huge psychological cost. A huge cost of time and money not to mention the huge cost of lost opportunity all of which is paid by the writer. 12/14
1
15
157
Show this thread
I keep seeing folks saying that a trans lifestyle is being shoved down their throat. I have never had a trans person knock on my door and try to convert me. I have never had a trans person leave lit on my car. I’ve never had a trans person threaten me with fire if I don’t agree.
1,542
12.4K
71.7K
For those under 50
Life wasn't like this just a few decades ago
Those stories of 1 job per family w/ a pension, wages enough to buy a house, a car, put your kids through college and STILL have a few bucks to save
Its not a fantasy
They took it all away for greedy corporations
984
7,565
23.3K
“Until a drag queen walks into a school and beats eight kids to death with a copy of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird,’ I think you’re focusing on the wrong shit.”
~ Wanda Sykes
251
10.9K
47.8K
Damage control. “An oversight.” That’s code for “we’ve fired so many people that no one on the project ran it up the flagpole to legal or somebody that knew better.”
5
32
108
I wonder if it’s possible to put a near exact number on how much HBO Max’s little credits oopsie is going to cost all the studios in their final new deals with the Guilds.
27
241
3,947
Show this thread
This👇!!! The blatant disrespect is telling…
Quote Tweet
BTW, the correct framing of this story is "Rebranded service MAX really steps in it right out of the gate by ignoring credit definitions of producers, writers, and directors." It is NOT about how us widdle writers are "irked." hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/max
1
1
Met someone last night who told me they were up for Staff Writer in a mini-room, and they declined. Did the math and it made zero sense to leave their “day job” for 12 weeks in a “dream job” that would financially ruin them. Pretty good summation of where we’re at!
10
174
1,527
Show this thread
92
885
3,602
“We’re not asking for a rejection of capitalism. We’re not asking for a handout. We are asking a potent, timely question — what sort of future does humanity want? One …where humans are background actors in our own story?” #WGAstrong
1
AI has to be addresses now or never. I believe this is the last time any labor action will be effective in our business. If we don’t make strong rules now, they simply won’t notice if we strike in three years, because at that point they won’t need us. 10/end
34
1,018
4,875
Show this thread
Sharing an important message from the Hotel Workers unions
Don’t defer daily cleaning when staying in a hotel
168
2,522
7,920
Show this thread
Another great podcast about #wgastrong
Quote Tweet
Replying to @MebFaber
The scope and economics of the #writersstrike with @errollouis and @warrenleightTV -
cc: @michaelsucsy @DavidHSteinberg @abnormalreturns
open.spotify.com/episode/1J3mbN
2
Want to understand what’s at stake with the WGA writers’ strike? Listen to ’s podcast by Todd Garner and Billy Ray #wgastrike #wgastrong
1
3
Producers are not the AMPTP. Good producers are creatives who care about the scripts. They develop. Give notes. Problem solve in support of the film.
This idea of greedy money-grabbing suits is archaic. In fact, they're often the 1st to cut their own salary to get greenlit. /rant
9
66
382
WGA Strike sign-making “factory”
These signs don’t make themselves!!!
Writers are being exploited. We just want a fair share!
#wgastrong #wgastrike
1
1
5
If a writer says, "I sold a pilot for $100k," the public misconception is that this person just made a lot of money and shouldn't be complaining when [INSERT OTHER PROFESSION] makes less.
Here's how industry news publications COULD help dispel this myth, if they wanted to...
52
2,752
10.9K
Show this thread
An exec from a company that disappeared several years worth of creative work by hundreds of creative people for tax purposes then about-facing and whining about "the creative spirit" , that's a special kind of chutzpah.
10
323
1,718
Show this thread
Minimum staff size. I keep getting asked about it. I myself didn’t entirely understand until the Showrunner Meeting. Even then, it took three people asking the same question until the pieces locked together for many of us.
It is literally for the survival of our union. Why?
27
1,239
4,033
Show this thread
There's definitely a "prove yourself" phase early in your career, where you just need to get ahead by any means necessary. But then it comes time for the business to ante up. And they either need to add value, or keep walking.
5
4
146
Show this thread
WGA guild meeting quote of the night:
“This town runs on gaslight.”
#WGAstrong #solidarity #WritersStrike2023
4
71
385
For context, in 2007 the studios and networks told the writers that this "streaming" thing they were getting all worked up about would amount to nothing.
37
417
2,018
I always find if fascinating that the same people who complain about how much writers and creatives are paid are perfectly content with billionaires taking in far more than they deserve under some misguided view that somehow they disproportionately add more value.
3
3
33
Show this thread
