Special Trigger Digest contributer and WGWw member/writer on strike, writing here under the pseudonym A.E. Vogler, brings you news from the picket lines (with pictures!)

DAY 1

Not sure how long I'm going to keep this up, but here's a little photo journal of my experiences on the picket line.

On the first day, I worked the morning shift at CBS, which is walking distance from my apartment. Somewhere inside this compound, pale faced executives are feasting on caviar and calf brains as they plot ways to enslave our children and break down our homes for kindling.

The members who are picketing are spread around a dozen locations, which means there are only a hundred or so at a given spot.

Picketing consists of walking back and forth in front of the gates - though we had to step aside to let cars on and off the lot, which kind of took the teeth out. Most drivers were friendly. A few openly hostile. This strike is putting crew and assistants out of work.

Weird people show up and give us things. This guy handed out bottles of water after singing along to Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone." (Get it? Since you've been gone? Get it?) He's singing in the picture. Notice how everyone around him is avoiding eye contact and laughing uncomfortably.

At the end of the shift I was put on scab watch. Four of us stood around a back gate with instructions to photograph anyone who drove onto the lot who might be a scab writer. How one instantly identifies a scab writer, I cannot say. But no matter; in the two hours I was there, not one car passed. But I did meet a lovely writer named Tom Strong (left) who used to write for "Night Court."

After scab watch I went to the dentist. Picketing in the morning, teeth cleaning in the afternoon. Now that is my idea of a perfect day.

Arriving home that night, I found this photo of myself in the L.A. Times. Check out the tall drink of water on the right. Of course they shot me during the 30 seconds I was on my cell phone, so I look like a Hollywood hustler instead of a dedicated union man.

DAY 2

It's a two-for-oner until I get regular tomorrow.

Feeling the vibe at CBS was a little lame, I elected to move on up to the big leagues, working the afternoon shift at Paramount today. More people, more energy. I'll probably stick with this crew for a bit.

The picket is becoming all about getting passing cars to honk in support, probably because it's the only tangible sign of progress available to us. The bullhorn got passed around a lot. One guy kept shouting, "Honk if you love movies!" but to me it sounded like, "Honk if you love boobies!" Come to think of it, this might be a more effective rallying cry. (I understand some people do, in fact, like boobies.)

Someone brought their kid. Looks like she got a splinter.

Is it me, or do these guys look like they're about to hand out a beat down? (Well, maybe not third from the right.)

One of the nice things about the picket is that you get to meet cool people. Today I hung out with John August, writer of BIG FISH, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, CHARLIE'S ANGELS and others. I think it's great that a guy like John is on the front lines of this strike. In this picture, he's gently scratching the side of his nose. Honest.

End of Day Two. Energy is high. But this has only just begun. It's frightening to think this could continue for many months. The hardest part is having to stop working on my current projects. The stories are alive for me, and to not nurture them is to go against my nature. But pencils down means pencils down.

More tomorrow.

Click here to read "Day 3"