Writers Guild of America (WGA) has gone on strike!

For the first time in 15 years, the Writers Guild of America or the WGA will go on strike, leaving Hollywood movies and shows to shut down production and press releases. The last WGA strike happened between 2007 and 2008 and lasted 100 days. It cost the Californian economy $3 billion. The strike is occurring because the WGA failed to reach an agreement for higher pay from the nine largest studios such as Netflix, which are represented through the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). It is said that this could severely impact the autumn TV season because writing usually starts during May or June. The WGA represents 11,500 writers and other members.

This is an important issue to address because it often appears that writers are not valued enough in the industry. We are responsible for more than most people think. Actors may star in front of the camera but without a writer, they would not have a story to act out. Half of TV writers work at minimum salaries, as opposed to 2013-2014 where only a third were paid that little. The WGA is demanding better pay, expanding protections to cover all television writers, a mandatory minimum staffing required for each episode of television, a guaranteed number of consecutive weeks of work, share of compensation from the streaming revenue and many more reasonable requests that they deserve to have. There is also the fear of AI or robots replacing the writers and a request for safeguards from studios to prevents AI generating new scripts from writers previous works. 

Shows that will currently be impacted are late night shows such as The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Saturday Night Live, The Late Show With Steven Colbert and Late Night With Seth Myers. They have shut down immediately and will air reruns. Network television shows like the Emmy-award winning Abbott Elementary and Yellowjackets have also ceased writing. Streaming shows like Good Omens, Cobra Kai and Stranger Things are also affected and writing has stopped. Many actors have supported this strike. Brett Goldstein, a writer and producer on Ted Lasso told The Hollywood Reporter, "It's time writers were paid a fair wage, it seems a real shame that all this good stuff was made by writers, all these people and there are writers who are genuinely struggling to afford to live. It just seems insane. You need writers,"

While the impact of film and television may not be felt right now, we will certainly feel it if the strike continues for an extended period of time. The Actors Union (SAG-AFTR) and the Directors Union (DGA) are also in negotiations with the studios and their deadline is June 30.