The 2023 Hollywood Writer’s Strike and the subsequent SAG-AFTRA Actor’s Strike were landmark events in the entertainment industry, highlighting the evolving dynamics of the media landscape and the increasing complexities of the digital age. This detailed analysis delves into the causes, timeline, events, and outcomes of these strikes.
Background and Prelude
Streaming Revolution and Residuals
The rise of streaming platforms fundamentally altered the media distribution landscape, leading to a major shift in how writers and actors were compensated. Traditional residuals from broadcast and cable were not keeping pace with the profits generated by streaming services. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) argued that this shift had significantly reduced writers’ average incomes compared to a decade ago.
The AI Controversy
A hot-button issue was the potential use of artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, in scriptwriting. The WGA expressed concerns about AI being used to replace human writers, advocating for its use only as a supplementary tool for research and script development.
The Pandemic’s Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic’s aftermath saw significant workforce reductions and the cancellation of multiple film and television productions. This period, termed the fall of “Peak TV,” created worsening conditions for writers and actors, as productions sought to save money on residuals and licensing costs.
The Strike: Timeline and Key Events
The Expired Agreement
On May 2, 2020, the latest Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) became the collective bargaining agreement covering most work done by WGA writers. This agreement, however, only applied to broadcast television writers, leaving those working for streaming services in a precarious position. The MBA expired on May 1, 2023, setting the stage for the strike.
The WGA’s Proposals
The WGA’s proposals aimed to secure better compensation, including mandatory staffing requirements, duration of employment terms, and individual pension and health care funds for each writing team member. These proposals faced rejection from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The Strike and Industry Impact
The strike led to widespread disruption across the industry. High-profile projects like “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Dune: Part Two,” and “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” saw their release schedules delayed. Other productions like “Cleopatra” and “Spawn” faced scriptwriting pauses and indefinite postponements.
The Actors Join: SAG-AFTRA Strike
Following the writers, the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) also initiated a strike. This compounded the industry’s challenges, as actors stood in solidarity with writers over similar issues of fair compensation and working conditions in the streaming era. SAG-AFTRA was also concerned about AI’s intrusion into the space and the possibility that background actors may have their images scanned and re-purposed for use in additional scenes or productions without additional compensation.
The incorporation of the actor’s strike into this movement made it largely impossible for productions to continue, and even affected the promotion of finished productions. Many films that were released in 2023 arguably suffered at the box office due to the inability to have key cast and crew involved in a pre-release promotional tours, for example.
Resolution and Industry Reflection
The resolution of the strikes came with revised agreements that addressed some of the key concerns of the writers and actors. However, the lasting impact of these events was a deeper industry-wide contemplation about the future of content creation, the role of emerging technologies like AI, and the equitable distribution of profits in the streaming age.
The 2023 strikes signified a turning point, underscoring the need for the industry to adapt to new realities. It highlighted the increasing power of streaming platforms, the potential threats and opportunities presented by AI, and the importance of ensuring fair compensation and working conditions in a rapidly changing media landscape.
In conclusion, the 2023 Hollywood Writer’s and SAG-AFTRA Actor’s strikes were not just about immediate grievances but were indicative of deeper shifts within the entertainment industry. As streaming continues to dominate and technologies like AI evolve, the industry faces the challenge of balancing innovation with the rights and roles of the creative individuals who are its backbone.
