The Writer’s Guild of America’s former pact expired October 31, 2007, and now the Guild is demanding better pay. They want residuals – a payment received when the film they wrote is aired on television, or when a TV show goes into syndication. Writers also want payment for when their work is played on cell phones or over the internet. The Guild also want to have some say in non-traditional programming, such as animated shows, reality tv shows, and game shows. Finally, the Guild wants increased pay and better pension and health compensation.

Members of the Writer’s Guild are picketing outside different television production studios in shift. The strike is already affecting nighttime television shows, like Jay Leno, and evening television shows like “Til Death” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

Interestingly enough, the actors and actresses are in support of the Writer’s Guild. Jay Leno went and joined the Guild, providing them with food so they could continue picketing. Jack Black said simply, “I guess I won’t be going on Talk Shows to promote movies because Talk Shows have writers.”

Vince Vaughn hopes they’ll “Come to a quick conclusion for both sides.” We hope so, too!