The ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike continues to escalate with more aggressive tactics being employed by guild members, differing significantly from the last major strike 15 years ago. The strike, which began on May 2, 2023, has centered around the steady erosion of writers’ incomes during the streaming era. The major studios and networks, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), have countered the WGA’s claims by stating they have offered generous increases in compensation and improvements in streaming residuals. However, disagreements over mandatory staffing levels and duration of employment remain unresolved.
One noteworthy development is the intensification of picketing activities. Instead of large-scale protests intended to build union solidarity, as seen in previous strikes, WGA members are now focusing on halting individual productions. These efforts include impromptu pickets that one writer described as “guerrilla tactics”. Over the last 48 hours, WGA pickets have shut down Showtime’s coming-of-age drama “The Chi” in Chicago, and halted production on other high-profile shows and movies across the country, including Showtime’s “Billions”, Max’s “The Penguin”, and Apple TV+’s “Severance” on the East Coast, as well as Apple TV+’s “Loot”, “Good Trouble”, and the Lionsgate movie “Good Fortune” in Los Angeles.
While the strike has led to a halt or delay in dozens of productions, the impact is not universal across all projects. Some shows have been able to continue production due to showrunners refusing to participate in the strike, while others have halted production due to pickets.
Simultaneously, negotiations between the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the studios, led by the AMPTP, have been underway. As of now, these negotiations have not led to any significant agreements, but the outcome of these negotiations could have a profound impact on the trajectory of the WGA strike. The DGA’s current contract with the studios and producers expires on June 30, and there is speculation that the DGA could join the WGA on the picket lines if an agreement is not reached, although this would break with tradition.
Despite the differences in issues between what the WGA and DGA seek from the AMPTP, there has been public support between the two guilds, with a number of individual directors joining the picket lines with the writers over the past three weeks.
This article has provided an overview of the current state of the WGA strike, but the situation is evolving rapidly. The ultimate outcomes of both the WGA strike and the DGA negotiations with the AMPTP remain uncertain and could profoundly affect the future of the entertainment industry.
[Please note that this article is a summary of the situation as it stands at the time of writing, May 25, 2023, and the situation may have changed by the time you read this.]
A.I. in Screen Trade 