Hollywood screenwriters strike for higher pay

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) said its leadership has unanimously backed its first strike in 15 years after failing to reach an agreement on higher wages from studios such as Walt Disney and Netflix.

The Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, California, USA. Photo: Reuters

“The companies’ actions have created a gig economy for our unionized workforce,” said the WGA, which represents about 11,500 writers and screenwriters.

The strike comes as Hollywood studios are facing tough times. The companies are under pressure from investors to make their streaming services profitable, after pumping billions of dollars into programming to attract new subscribers.

The rise of streaming has led to a decline in TV advertising revenue, as traditional TV audiences shrink and advertisers move elsewhere. The risk of a recession for the industry is clear.

The last WGA strike was in 2007 and 2008, which lasted 100 days. It cost an estimated $2.1 billion, as productions ground to a halt and writers, actors, and producers were left without work.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios, said it had offered a "generous pay increase" and was ready to increase its offer.

Writers say they've suffered from the streaming TV boom with shorter series, leading to lower paychecks. "Wow. This is scary," Emmy-winning writer Ashley Nicole Black wrote on Twitter. "But a future… of low-paying, seasonal writing gigs with no job security is even scarier."

According to WGA statistics, half of Hollywood TV writers now work for minimum wage, compared to one-third in 2013-2014.

The WGA also wants protections to prevent studios from using artificial intelligence (AI) to create new products from writers and screenwriters’ previous work. Screenwriters also want to ensure they are not asked to rewrite AI-generated draft scripts.

Production has been halted on Los Angeles film sets due to the strike. Film LA, which issues permits for filming in Los Angeles, said it will not be filming from Tuesday through the end of the week.

If the strike lasts longer, television networks will increasingly have to fill their programming lineups with reality shows, news shows and unscripted reruns.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cac-nha-bien-kich-hollywood-dinh-cong-doi-tang-luong-post246086.html