The strike by the Writers Guild of America saw local actions with pickets lines at both Sony Pictures Entertainment and Amazon Studios. WGA went on strike May 1, 2023 at 12:01 am, as had been both predicted and dreaded by the film and television industry for weeks. Talks broke off Monday night with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and are yet to resume.
As the demand for content has grown exponentially with streaming services, the WGA has noted that profits for studios are up, and the median pay for writers is down.
The last time the WGA went on strike for 100 days in 2007-2008, it affected every part of the economy in Southern California.
According the LA Times, “The roots of the current labor conflict were planted during the previous writers strike, the first big clash over so-called new media. The rapid growth of Netflix and other online platforms since then has dramatically changed how entertainment is consumed, and how writers are paid for creating that entertainment.Even as streaming content has boomed, however, writers argue that the new models have steadily eroded their pay and the ability to earn a living in Hollywood.”
Picketing is expected to continue in Culver City.
Judith Martin-Straw
Photo Credit – Scott Kecken
