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Everything You Need to Know About the Hollywood Strike That Started from 14 July

2023-07-15 , 1:33 am

Last Updated on 2023-07-25 , 11:33 am

Hollywood writers and actors are now on strike.

Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Hollywood Writers and Actors on Strike

On Thursday (14 July), Hollywood actors joined Hollywood writers on strike after talks between studios and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) broke down.

Strike a pose? No. Literally, a strike.

This is the first time in 63 years that both writers and actors have gone on strike together.

If you’re confused, the Hollywood actors are on the side of the SAG-AFTRA here—the union boasts the membership of stars like Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie.

These actors are on the same side as the writers on strike from the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

Over the next few days, weeks, or however long this strike will last, you’ll probably see your favourite Hollywood stars joining the WGA writers on the picket lines, who have already been on strike for 11 weeks now.

Big names like Meryl Streep and Ben Stiller have already stepped up to express their support for the strike.

The next thing you know, we’re going to see a repeat of the ongoing riots in France—superheroes might start assembling in Hollywood.

How apt.

Why the Hollywood Strike Started

If you’re not one up to speed with the entertainment scene, you’re probably just as confused as I am right now. But fret not; Goody Feed’s got your back.

There are two key reasons for the Hollywood strike.

TLDR, the strikes result from our ex, Netflix, and our best friend, ChatGPT.

First, actors and writers want fairer pay.

They are demanding increases in base pay and residual payments to keep up with inflation and industry changes in light of the streaming era.

Ah… Whose fault? Netflix’s fault.

The Hollywood strike also emerged because of concerns that their work would be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

Specifically, actors are concerned that their digital images will be used without permission or rightful compensation. And for writers, well, most of us are probably users of ChatGPT—it’s clear what’s the problem writers have with AI.

The Other Side of the Story: Responses to the Hollywood Strike

Of course, parties on the other end of the Hollywood strike are far from pleased.

They are mainly the Hollywood studios, which include the popular entertainment conglomerate, Walt Disney.

Not so magical now, is it?

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, remarked that the Hollywood writers and actors had unrealistic expectations, adding that the strikes were “very disturbing” to him.

Who’s going to tell Iger that real life is unlike a Disney fairy tale?

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the trade association responsible for negotiating nearly all guild and union contracts in Hollywood, is on the same page as Iger.

The association shared that it was “deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations.”

AMPTP is sort of like your ex; they can’t seem to handle rejection.

The association also claimed that studios had presented proposals ensuring AI would not be a problem for Hollywood actors and writers.

We’ll see whether that’s “cap” or not as the situation unfolds.

And what would be a response without some finger-pointing? As a certain iconic Singaporean once said, when you point a finger, “three fingers also pointing me”.

From the AMPTP’s perspective, the “three fingers” that the Hollywood actors and writers have pointed back at them is this: by going on strike, the SAG-AFTRA “deepen[s] the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.”

Basically, going on strike to get more money, just to have the entire industry lose money.

The Cost of the Hollywood Strike

There’s some truth to AMPTP’s “three fingers” reasoning.

The last time we saw actors man the picket lines in 1980, the ten-week strike was estimated to have cost the industry $100 million.

This is worth nearly $370 million today.

And the last time we saw writers on strike in 2008, it cost the industry approximately $2 billion. The strike lasted for 100 days, which is about 14 weeks.

The exact cost of the current Hollywood strike will depend on how long the strike lasts.

What’s Going to Happen to Movies and TV Shows?

You might be thinking: “Ok… But I still can watch all my favourite movies, right?”

Well, not really. If the strike goes on for too long, you can temporarily forget about seeing your favourite Hollywood stars on the big screens. Perhaps you should start getting used to the Channel 8 dramas again.

It’s easy to see why this is the case. If everyone bo zou gang, how are movies going to be produced?

Nearly 11,500 writers have gone on strike thus far. It also doesn’t help that SAG-AFTRA represents almost all of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars—now, they’re all at the picket lines rather than on set.

The only saving grace is that this is more a problem for TV shows rather than movies, given the extensive lag between filming and theatre screening for film.

Of course, the strike will still affect some movies, particularly those currently in production or beginning production this month.

If you’re looking forward to any of these movies, expect delays in their releases: Ghostbusters 4, Mufasa: The Lion King, Avatar 3 and 4, Paddington in Peru, Deadpool 3, the Gladiator sequel, and more.

Disney has also pushed back the release of multiple Marvel films.

Sian. At least it gives you time to binge the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe again.

On the other hand, TV shows are already experiencing the immediate effects of the strike.

Several TV talk shows have been sent into re-runs. And with no one to write TV scripts, Fox has since filled its fall TV schedule with unscripted series, including Lego Masters and Kitchen Nightmares.

Imagine switching on your TV after a long day of work and unwinding to Lego competitions and Gordon Ramsay rage compilations. What more could you ask for?