- The main union of American screenwriters has voted to authorize the strike by 98% from May 1
- This does not mean that the strike is certain, but it is an option.
- In the event of a social movement, certain productions are threatened. The studios are preparing for the worst
This is a dramatic warning to Hollywood. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), the main union of American film and series screenwriters, voted to authorize the strike with an overwhelming majority of 98%. This means that he authorizes this organization to launch a social movement if the current wage negotiations fail by May 1.
WGA members have authorized a strike by 97.85%. Writers are ready for a deal from the studios that allows writers to share in the success of the content they create and build a stable life. #WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/gnCJsgH8Sg
— Writers Guild of America West (@WGAWest) April 17, 2023
The WGA is very feared in Hollywood, and we remember certain strikes that impacted production over time. This time, the writers are asking for substantial increases in income to cope with inflation and stagnating wages.
After the first exchanges: “The studios have shown no signs that they intend to address the issues that our members are determined to resolve in this negotiation”plague the WGA union.
What impact on series and films?
As spectators, we are entitled to wonder if our favorite films and series will be impacted in the event of a social movement. In concrete terms, a strike will directly affect American “Late Show” type programs which produce just in time and on a daily basis.
For other content, it will take several months before this work stoppage is felt. But it is not impossible, and keep in mind this mobilization which lasted a hundred days during the winter of 2007.
In any case, Hollywood executives are well prepared for the worst. According to New York Timesthey’ve been stockpiling scripts for some time, and won’t hesitate to produce reality shows that don’t require a scriptwriter.
Quoted by our colleagues, David Zaslav, the general manager of Warner Bros, however, did not hide his concern. He said he hopes an agreement will be found between the two parties. “A strike would be a challenge for the whole sector”he warns.
A few days before the deadline, each of the two parties is therefore showing its muscles. For its part, the WGA had nevertheless shown a surprising openness at the start of negotiations by saying that it was open to using AI tools such as ChatGPT for drafting. However, it specified that the latter should not be credited.
