The first WGA strike since 2007 began on May 2, 2023
PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES; ILLUSTRATION: VARIETY
This ongoing labor dispute began between the Writers Guild of America labor union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
What is the strike about?
To put it plain and simple, writers are not getting paid. They're getting paid money, but not enough to even buy groceries, or gas, or pay rent, or other bills, or buy lunch, or a new laptop to write...
I think you get it by now.
Studio executives continue to get richer and sport salaries worth millions of dollars, while writers that bring their shows to life aren't getting paid fairly.
The WGA represents over 6000 entertainment writers who work in TV, news, online media, and film. The AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) represent studios such as Netflix, Disney, and NBC Universal. Negotiations between WGA and the AMPTP failed and the deadline for a new contract passed. The writers want studios to go further than just "generous increases in compensation", but also address mandatory staffing and duration of employment.
The rise of streaming has increased the amount of content being pumped out to audiences. The writers room is turning "mini", with less time to write and not enough writers, and there is also a huge lack of protection and residual pay. Residuals are a form of royalty payment. For example, the cast of Friends would receive millions of dollars in residuals since they negotiated for that pay. And for shows that are winning Emmy's and receiving millions of viewers every episode, the residuals don't reflect that. Alex O'Keefe, one of the writers of the hit HULU show, The Bear, attended the 2023 Emmy's with a negative bank account. What's even more insane is the fact that The Bear won Best Comedy Series. Some writers, even actors, are being sent residual checks worth 0.3 cents.
Writers are asking for about 3% to be shared with them. Personally, I think they're being too nice. These issues and disputes have been going on for over 15 years.
What are the rules of the strike?
No writing!
Some studios have even threatened to use AI technology to write scripts. Yikes!
What is the affect of the strike?
Well, Pete Davidson was supposed to be on SNL last Saturday. And Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and both the Jimmy's were supposed to have their late night talk shows run. Production of Marvel's Blade was supposed to be filming. But it was all shut down and won't return until the strike is over.
Strikes in 2007 affected the landscape of TV. Many have noted that the quality of writing in television decreased around the time the first strike began. You may notice it when watching shows such as Friday Night Lights. Many programs were canceled, which was covered by the boom of cheap-to-make unscripted reality TV. Apprentice ----> Celebrity Apprentice. The strike lasted 100 days.
Consumption of foreign content such as Squid Game, might probably increase. The strikes don't really affect entertainment industries out of America. But there is still a chance they could be impacted, negatively or positively. However, writers can mail their scripts to be made internationally.
PHOTO CREDITS: CHRIS DELMAS/AFP VIA GETTY
How can I help?
Get to the picket lines if you can! Grab a sign and make your voice heard. It doesn't even matter if you're just an actor. Many actors/actor-writers have been spotted on the picket lines such as Quinta Brunson, creator of the hit ABC show, Abbot Elementary, and her castmate Lisa Ann Walter. Support the strike and donate to strike support funds:
Honorary Reporter, Ziga Poromon, #WeAreHere, Asia Lab.
Instagram: @zigaporomon
Twitter: ZiigCreatives
The first WGA strike since 2007 began on May 2, 2023
This ongoing labor dispute began between the Writers Guild of America labor union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
What is the strike about?
To put it plain and simple, writers are not getting paid. They're getting paid money, but not enough to even buy groceries, or gas, or pay rent, or other bills, or buy lunch, or a new laptop to write...
I think you get it by now.
Studio executives continue to get richer and sport salaries worth millions of dollars, while writers that bring their shows to life aren't getting paid fairly.
The WGA represents over 6000 entertainment writers who work in TV, news, online media, and film. The AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) represent studios such as Netflix, Disney, and NBC Universal. Negotiations between WGA and the AMPTP failed and the deadline for a new contract passed. The writers want studios to go further than just "generous increases in compensation", but also address mandatory staffing and duration of employment.
The rise of streaming has increased the amount of content being pumped out to audiences. The writers room is turning "mini", with less time to write and not enough writers, and there is also a huge lack of protection and residual pay. Residuals are a form of royalty payment. For example, the cast of Friends would receive millions of dollars in residuals since they negotiated for that pay. And for shows that are winning Emmy's and receiving millions of viewers every episode, the residuals don't reflect that. Alex O'Keefe, one of the writers of the hit HULU show, The Bear, attended the 2023 Emmy's with a negative bank account. What's even more insane is the fact that The Bear won Best Comedy Series. Some writers, even actors, are being sent residual checks worth 0.3 cents.
Writers are asking for about 3% to be shared with them. Personally, I think they're being too nice. These issues and disputes have been going on for over 15 years.
What are the rules of the strike?
No writing!
Some studios have even threatened to use AI technology to write scripts. Yikes!
What is the affect of the strike?
Well, Pete Davidson was supposed to be on SNL last Saturday. And Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and both the Jimmy's were supposed to have their late night talk shows run. Production of Marvel's Blade was supposed to be filming. But it was all shut down and won't return until the strike is over.
Strikes in 2007 affected the landscape of TV. Many have noted that the quality of writing in television decreased around the time the first strike began. You may notice it when watching shows such as Friday Night Lights. Many programs were canceled, which was covered by the boom of cheap-to-make unscripted reality TV. Apprentice ----> Celebrity Apprentice. The strike lasted 100 days.
Consumption of foreign content such as Squid Game, might probably increase. The strikes don't really affect entertainment industries out of America. But there is still a chance they could be impacted, negatively or positively. However, writers can mail their scripts to be made internationally.
How can I help?
Get to the picket lines if you can! Grab a sign and make your voice heard. It doesn't even matter if you're just an actor. Many actors/actor-writers have been spotted on the picket lines such as Quinta Brunson, creator of the hit ABC show, Abbot Elementary, and her castmate Lisa Ann Walter. Support the strike and donate to strike support funds:
Honorary Reporter, Ziga Poromon, #WeAreHere, Asia Lab.
Instagram: @zigaporomon
Twitter: ZiigCreatives