Hollywood braces for major ripple effects from writers' strike
The last strike 15 years ago lasted for 100 days and put a roughly US$2 billion dent in the economy.
Protesters supporting the Hollywood writers' strike march in a picket line outside an entrance to Boston University commencement ceremonies, Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Boston. David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, delivered an address during ceremonies Sunday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
NEW YORK: Costume designers help bring a character to life, but business has been dead for Ms Michelle Li recently.
Ms Li has been out of work since October last year. She has been collecting unemployment benefits since February this year. This is a stark difference from the previous year, when she was bursting at the seams with offers.
Her predicament arose from fears over strike action that have slowed the industry for months, said Ms Li.
Major film and television studios have been dealing with a month-long strike by about 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America. Despite the impact on her life, it is a fight worth having, said Ms Li.
“We are the workers of entertainment, and the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers), the producers, the studios - they have way more money and they are making so much more money off our backs than I think they are letting on. And so every single gain that the writers make in their contracts, eventually, I hope will come back to benefit us.”
The guild, which represents film and television directors, about a week ago reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood’s major studios, averting a possible work stoppage.
However, the writers remain on strike.
Separately, actors represented by Hollywood union Sag-Aftra have overwhelmingly voted to strike if they do not agree on a new contract with the AMPTP by Jun 30.
The standoffs could impact those working across every corner of the sector.
WRITERS’ STRIKE SINCE MAY
The writers have been on strike since the start of May.
They are calling for better salaries and greater job security, amid a changing media environment including the rapid rise of streaming services.
The last strike 15 years ago lasted for 100 days and put a roughly US$2 billion dent in the economy.
This time, the impact could be even greater.
Experts said strike action creates major ripple effects for those connected to the entertainment sector.
“If you are a make-up person or a hair person and there are many of them, and they aren’t getting anywhere near what the actors and actresses or high-end top writers are getting and they need the paycheck,” said Professor Alvin Lieberman, executive director of the Entertainment, Media and Technology Initiative at the New York University’s Stern School of Business.
It is not just the United States’ entertainment sector that could be impacted.
Writers guilds in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have expressed their support for the strike in the US in a move that could impact co-productions.
But the popularity of shows like Squid Game could see American streaming services and networks lean more heavily on foreign content.
Experts, however, said there is a shelf life on how long media platforms can rely on international programming and reality TV.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t go on for six months but that’s the point when I think the rubber band begins to stretch,” said Prof Lieberman.
FEARS OF CONTINUED IMPACT
Many in the industry fear the strike will continue to impact livelihoods even after a deal is done.
“For most of our members the challenge is, 'how am I going to get through the summer. How am I going to get through the next couple months?',” said national business agent at United Scenic Artists Carl Mulert.
“Because even if the strike ends in June, it’s going to take a while for projects to gear up, it’s going to take a while to make up the lost income.”
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Some fear the strike could have a significant impact on immigrants working in the industry.
“You have to prove you’re talented, you have to prove you’re necessary, you bring a benefit to the industry. However, with the strike happening, it’s a little hard to prove to the government that you’ll keep generating something new for the industry because the industry is down,” said art director Vivienne Liu.
Ms Liu is booked on a project as an art director through most of the next few months till September.
However, she is afraid that competition will be fierce when the strike ends and everyone in the industry will be back looking for work.
Still, she said she is supportive of the strike and hopes it will positively change the narrative for people working across the sector.
