The day after the WGA secured a tentative agreement with the AMPTP, there were no official pickets held due to the holiday. That didn’t stop Warner Bros. strike captain Terry Wilkerson and strike captain emelle from showing up at the Warner Bros. executive gate. Since May 2, when the WGA strike began, Wilkerson has never missed a single morning at Warner Bros. Sept. 25 marked his 147th day of showing up — something he does regardless of holidays and no-picket days.
Wilkerson’s unbreakable consistency is now legendary on West Olive Avenue. Fellow strike captain Virgo Phillips posted on social media that he was “the literal heart and soul of our WB lot fam.”
Though the more than 850 strike captains across the country are diverse in terms of age, profession and background, they all share the same commitment to serving their union.
Jaya Subramanian, a strike captain at the Sony lot, says she decided to be a strike captain because she has been a SAG-AFTRA member since 2007 and wanted to give back. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland called strike captains like Subramanian, “the heroes of the pickets.”
On Oct. 19, the negotiating committee, along with other SAG-AFTRA members, celebrated Captains Appreciation Day by traveling to every picket location in the southland to deliver cookies and gratitude to the hardworking volunteer captains. There were plenty of hugs and words of encouragement to go around. Ever Carradine brought yellow roses for each of the captains at the Warner Bros. lot.
“Yellow symbolizes friendship,” she said. “And I’ve made friends with every single one of them. I appreciate their dedication to coming out every day and keeping us safe. I appreciate their commitment. And I cannot wait to work with all of them once this strike is over.”
Negotiating Committee member Lisa Ann Walter used the words “intrepid” and “inspiring” to describe the strike captains.
“I’ve been coming out every day since the WGA strike began,” Walter said. “They’re out here working hard ... not getting paid in this 100-degree weather we’ve had. I love them. We all owe them.”
At the Paramount lot, National and L.A. Local Board member Frances Fisher took the megaphone.
“You strike captains are out here in the blazing sun and the pouring rain,” she said. “Thank you! You give us life. You give us strength.”
For many strike captains, advocacy isn’t limited to the entertainment industry. As health care workers began their five-day strike at Providence St. Joseph’s in Burbank on Oct. 23, Disney strike captain Dmetri Belardinelli loaned his voice to the rally on Alameda Avenue.
“Solidarity doesn’t end after the strike,” Belardinelli said. “Solidarity is forever!”
This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA fall/winter 2023 magazine issue.