The last time it happened was about fifteen years ago, in 2007-2008, costing Hollywood studios about $2 billion in losses. And now the problem returns. The US screenwriters are on strike again, according to the WGA (Writers Guild of America) committee, because the expiration of the category contract (dated 2017) after almost two months of negotiations between the parties there was no agreement on the extension.
Also read: Orsa JJ4, the tar of Trento, suspended the culling regulation again
The scenario has obviously changed compared to the last strike: At that time it was demanded that the services of the scriptwriters be increased in proportion to the enormous income from the productions, the negotiations this time also took place with new actors, the platforms: “The negotiating committee of the WGA – According to the note signed by the negotiators – has spent the last six weeks negotiating with Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount and Sony under the umbrella of the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP) . During the negotiations, we explained how these companies’ business practices have drastically reduced our salaries and royalties, thereby undermining our working conditions. We have made it clear that we are committed to entering into a new contract with fair pay that reflects the value of our contribution to the success of the industry and includes safeguards to ensure writing continues to be a sustainable profession.”
Your browser does not support the iframe tag
According to American media, this strike will have an immediate impact on the most popular talk shows in the States, from Jimmy Kimmel Live to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with a progressive impact on hundreds of thousands of show business employees, set and production lockdowns. Also according to the WGA, the average weekly salary of screenwriters has fallen by 4% over the last decade, a percentage that is rising in the face of inflation: this is not the only problem, however, as the issue related to salary increases was also on the negotiating table in relation on the transfer of copyright (a matter that should be reviewed given the exploitation of works on platforms) and the strong concern – as denounced by Italian speakers during the agitation of recent weeks – regarding artificial intelligence technologies, which could arise a threat to the work of authors and screenwriters. The paralysis of the golden world of Hollywood is upon us.
Also read: Maxi screen at Maradona Stadium, Naples prepares for the third championship