Blockbuster news from Hollywood. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike late tonight.
After unsuccessful talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the union said the picketing would begin tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. PT.
Board of Directors @WGAwest and Council @WGAeastacting under the powers conferred on them by their membership, voted unanimously to declare a strike, effective at 00:01 on Tuesday, 2 May.
— Writers Guild of Western America (@WGAWest) May 2, 2023
“While we agreed on the intent to make a fair deal – and although your strike vote has given us leverage to reap some benefits – studio responses to our proposals have been wholly insufficient given the existential crisis the writers are facing,” the WGA said in a statement. message to participants.
The announcement was made three hours before the official expiration of their new film and television script contract. The last WGA strike was back in 2007-2008. It lasted 100 days. More than 11,000 TV and film writers are expected to quit their jobs.
What does the WGA want?
The Writers Guild is asking for several changes to their new contract, including:
- Increasing compensation for streaming and new media.
- Cessation of practice mini roomssmall writers’ rooms where a showrunner and a limited team of writers develop scripts for minimal compensation.
- Increasing deductions for medical and pension benefits
- More control over the work of screenwriters
The authors say that with the advent of streaming services, they need a contract that reflects the changing times.
“Writers of every level and in every genre, whether it’s feature films or television, we’re all being depreciated and exploited by studios for financial gain.” – Danny Tolley, Credited Writer “Roswell, New Mexico“and the Shondaland Show”Catch” said New York Times. “These studios are making billions in profits and spending billions on content — content that we create with our blood, sweat and tears.”
— Nick Mandernach (@ManderNick) May 2, 2023
The studios are retreating
AMPTP, which represents studios and streamers such as Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony and W*rner Bros Discovery, said in a statement that it offers a “comprehensive package offer.” According to Hollywood ReporterThe stumbling blocks were the guild’s proposals for a minimum number of writers and a minimum amount of working time.
The strike sparked a frenzy in Hollywood.
“Across the city, agents and producers are rushing in at the last minute to close deals before midnight, so in some cases, some scribes may be on their last paycheck, we hear,” they wrote on Twitter. Deadline.
To date, it’s hard to say which shows and productions will be affected by the WGA strike, but the powerful Teamsters union has announced their members “do not cross picket lines”.
Operations management would be difficult without the drivers union, which represents workers such as drivers, location specialists, dispatchers and caterers.