Yesterday one studio head, one former studio head, two producers, two agents and two filmmakers sat on a panel on a stage at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque taking questions from local actors, writers and directors trying to figure out “how to break into Hollywood”. The answers varied from “do something original in your own country and we’ll find you” and “why would you want to come to Hollywood in the first place where you will be abused and robbed of personal style and identity” but quickly enough the discussion turned topical, as the writers’ strike came up, and panel member Brad Silberling (WGA and DGA member argued the case in favor of the writers. Sony chairperson Amy Pascal was not thrilled to hear this, or to absorb the positive vibe his pro-WGA impromptu rally sparked in the room, but gave quite an interesting response - on stage, on the record:
Here’s a transcript of what happened on stage, 41 minutes into the event,
where an AMPTP member and a WGA member sat side by side and thinking Israel
will be a guild-free zone. wrong:

Amy Pascal: We always need fresh talent in Hollywood. By the way, we need writers right now so if there are writers in this room please give me you card.
Arik Kneller, top Israeli agent representing mostly writers and directors,
asks from the audience: Are you serious, or was this a joke?
Amy: Oh, dear. That was a joke. If you write during the strike you’d be
scabs and then you won’t be admitted into the WGA after the strike is over.
Kneller (from the audience): Could you tell us more about the strike.
Amy: Basicaly, the writers want more money, and we don’t want to give it to
them. Must we go into this?
Then in a surprise twist a member of the panel on the other side of the
table takes the mike. This is Brad Silberling (”City of Angels”, “Moonlight
Mile”), WGA and DGA member.
Brad: Actually we do. I don’t want only the studios side to be represented
here. (Here Brad give a quick rundown of the writers’ demands regarding internet residuals. He calls the strike “the perfect storm”, meaning that it’s not only the writers, but also the actors and the directors whose contracts will be up for renewal soon, and the writers were just the first to go, but that come June, SAG and DGA will join them if this is not settled by then).
Amy: Brad is right, this is all about new technologies, it’s all about a new world that none of us understand ,so no one wants to start divvying it up before we know what it means. However it is also true that the writers have been treated like second class citizens in Hollywood forever so their paranoia is justified. And they did make a deal in the past where they didn’t get what they wanted in their cut of the DVD revenue and this is their chance to make up for it. It’s just unfortunate, because even being on the side I’m on I’m also on the other side and it’s a really terrible situation because it’s too soon for this and yet we also know that once we know what this is all about no-one will want to give it up.