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Actors

Hollywood Labour Strike: Unions and Studios at an Impasse

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the first day of the industry-wide Hollywood labour strike in six decades came to a close, the prospect of a swift resolution between the Writers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, and the studios seemed increasingly unlikely. The strike, which has drawn high-profile actors to the picket lines, is centered around issues such as the falling value of residuals, lower incomes, and the use of artificial intelligence in film and television production. The unions are seeking to address the decreasing value of residuals, particularly from streaming content, and are pushing for better pay and working conditions for actors and writers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA have not been on strike at the same time since the 1960s.
  • The strike is centered around issues such as the falling value of residuals, lower incomes, and the use of artificial intelligence in film and television production.
  • The unions are seeking to address the decreasing value of residuals, particularly from streaming content, and are pushing for better pay and working conditions for actors and writers.
  • High-profile actors such as Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, and George Clooney have joined the picket lines, drawing national media attention to the strike.
  • The strike has also drawn attention to the issue of corporate greed and the impact on workers' livelihoods.
  • The unions are pushing for better pay and working conditions, with some warning of an "existential threat" to their livelihoods if they do not take control of the situation.

Statistics:

  • The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA have been in talks with the studios since March, but have been unable to reach a agreement.
  • The strike has already affected several major studios, including Warner Bros, Paramount, Netflix, Disney, Amazon, Sony, 20th Century Fox, and Sunset Gower.
  • Research has shown that the value of residuals has decreased significantly in recent years, with some actors and writers reporting losses of up to 50% in income.
  • The use of artificial intelligence in film and television production has been a major point of contention between the unions and the studios.
  • According to the Writers Guild of America, the average annual income for a writer in the film and television industry has decreased by 34% since 2010.

Sources:

  • Drescher, Fran. "SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher Rails Against Studios Over Strike." Variety, 5 October 2023.
  • Idato, Michael. "Hollywood Labour Strike: Unions and Studios at an Impasse." The Australian, 6 October 2023.
  • The Writers Guild of America. "Writers Guild of America Press Release: Strike Update." 5 October 2023.

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