The Strikes Just Keep Rolling On

Back on May 2, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the trade association that represents over 350 American TV and film production companies in negotiations with entertainment industry trade unions.

According to online resources, this strike is the largest interruption to production since the COVID-19 pandemic and the largest labor stoppage since the last writers strike in 2007-2008.

The current strike jeopardizes long-term contracts created during the media streaming boom when producers were shelling out large sums to creative talent. The strike stems from, among other things, poor compensation for writers from residuals especially with the advent of streaming and a lack of agreement on a new contract.

The primary goals of the writers is to increase funding and job security for writers, increase the size of writers’ rooms and limit the use of artificial intelligence in the writing process.

To make matters worse, on July 14, the American actor’s Union SAG-AFTRA (otherwise known as the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) went on strike as well, making this the first time since the 1980’s that the actors have initiated a labor dispute. It is also the first time that both groups – WGA and SAG-AFTRA – have simultaneously been on strike since 1960.

Needless to say, these two strikes have caused the biggest interruption to the American TV and film industries since the start of the COVID pandemic. SAG-AFTRA is in disagreement with the AMPTP over residuals and regulations over self-tape auditions, a lack of agreement on a new contract and the usage by studios of artificial intelligence to scan actors’ faces to generate performances digitally.

The WGA strike has now been in effect for well over 100 days and the actors strike is at its one month mark with no end in sight despite the writers and producers going back into negotiations this week. Both sides are clearly entrenched in their wants and desires, and it is my opinion (and mine alone, not that of NiceGirlsTV) that these strikes could very well drag on for the rest of this year, causing even more significant delays in all aspects of production that affect more than just the writers and actors but everyone in production from visual effects, props, craft services, grips and so much more.

And, as I mentioned in my column last week, the fall TV landscape is going to look far different than before (except during the pandemic); and depending on how long the strikes actually last, productions on everything from shorts to commercials to TV shows to box office movies will be greatly impacted.

We can only hope that resolutions on both sides will come to fruition so that the writers and actors can get a better deal, that everyone can get back to work and the world of entertainment can get back on track.

Here is to wishing thinking.

[Featured Image Credit: Reuters-Mike Blake-File Photo]