Hollywood Writers Go on Strike over Better Pay for Streaming Services
Hollywood’s screenwriters have gone on strike after failed negotiations with studios and streaming platform owners. In the era of streaming services, they are demanding better compensation models.
For the first time in 15 years, Hollywood’s screenwriters have gone on strike. The strike by the approximately 11,500 unionized workers began directly after midnight, according to the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which announced the news on Twitter. Picket lines are planned outside the Hollywood studios in the district of the same name in the city of Los Angeles.
Two weeks ago, the union’s negotiating team had hinted at the possibility of a strike. Members had authorized union leaders to declare a strike if there was no agreement in the dispute with producers, the WGA said. Previous talks with studios, including streaming providers such as Disney and Netflix, had begun in March. The discussions were on a follow-up solution for contracts that had expired on May 1 and had a duration of three years.
Demand for More Pay and Profit Sharing
The working conditions for writers in the US entertainment industry feel like the Wild West, said screenwriter Zoe Marshall to ARD Studio Los Angeles. Conditions have deteriorated in recent years. Studios have repeatedly sold the work of screenwriters below market value.
Given the growth of streaming services, they are demanding more pay and a greater share of profits. So far, they have received an annual fixed salary from platforms, even when series such as “Bridgerton” or “Stranger Things” have become global successes with millions of viewers and have remained on platforms for years. Therefore, the writers are calling for a revision of the current rules for their compensation.
Hardened fronts
According to the union, salaries have remained the same or even fallen despite inflation, making it increasingly difficult for writers to make a living. Currently, more writers than ever are working at the minimum wage level, while productions are hiring fewer people for shorter series. Studios argue that costs must be cut due to economic pressure.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios, said they offered writers “generous pay increases,” but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
The last strike in 2007 lasted 100 days and cost the Californian economy over $2 billion, according to Reuters.
Entertainment Show Disruptions Expected
Late-night shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” which rely on writer teams to produce fresh material, could be affected by the strike. This means new episodes may not be available at their usual broadcast times on television or streaming services.
Depending on the strike’s duration, the release of series and films may need to be postponed. Studios and streamers had previously stated that they had purchased scripts and screenplays in advance.
