Double Strike Cripples Hollywood: Writers And Actors Demand Fair Contracts

Marta Kowalska

6 min read

Post on Apr 24, 2025

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The Writers Guild of America (WGA) Strike: Key Demands

The WGA strike, ongoing since May 2, 2023, represents a powerful push for significant changes within the television and film industry. Their demands center around fair compensation, protection against AI, and improved working conditions.

Fair Compensation and Residuals in the Streaming Era

The shift from traditional broadcast models to streaming platforms has drastically altered the compensation landscape for writers. The traditional system of residuals, payments made to writers each time their work airs, has been significantly eroded by streaming services.

• Lack of Transparency: Streaming platforms often withhold viewership data, making it impossible for writers to accurately assess the success of their work and negotiate fair residuals based on performance.
• Unfair Distribution of Revenue: The current system often favors studios and streaming platforms, leaving writers with significantly smaller shares of the revenue generated by their work, even for highly successful shows.
• WGA's Proposal: The WGA is pushing for a fairer system of residuals based on a transparent metric of streaming viewership, ensuring writers receive a reasonable share of the profits generated by their creative contributions.

The Rise of AI and its Threat to Writers' Livelihoods

The WGA is deeply concerned about the increasing use of AI in writing and its potential to displace human writers.

• AI-Generated Scripts: The use of AI to generate scripts or portions of scripts threatens to undermine the creative process and the livelihoods of writers who rely on their craft for income.
• WGA's Demands: The WGA demands regulations and safeguards to prevent the use of AI-generated content as a substitute for human creativity, including clear guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of AI in screenwriting.
• Examples of Concern: The WGA cites the use of AI to rewrite scripts, generate plot outlines, and even create entire scripts without human input as significant threats. The union is fighting to ensure human writers remain central to the creative process.

Minimum Staffing Levels and Working Conditions

Reduced staffing levels on productions are another major concern for the WGA. This leads to overworked writers, compromised creative quality, and less time for proper script development.

• Overworked Writers: Shorter writing periods and reduced staff lead to writers working excessive hours, compromising their well-being and the quality of their work.
• Demand for Fair Treatment: The WGA is pushing for minimum staffing levels on productions to ensure writers have sufficient time to craft high-quality scripts and are not subjected to exploitative working conditions.
• Improved Working Conditions: Beyond staffing, the WGA is seeking improvements to working conditions, including fair treatment, reasonable hours, and a more collaborative writing environment.

The SAG-AFTRA Strike: Actors' Fight for Fair Compensation and Protection

SAG-AFTRA joined the strike in July 2023, amplifying the demands for fair compensation and protection against the impact of new technologies.

Fair Wages and Residuals for Streaming

Similar to the WGA, SAG-AFTRA highlights the significant negative impact streaming has had on actors' compensation.

• Lack of Residuals: Streaming platforms often pay actors a single upfront fee, eliminating the traditional system of residuals that compensated them for repeated airings or broadcasts of their work.
• Pay Disparity: The current system results in significant pay disparities between actors working on streaming projects compared to those in traditional media.
• SAG-AFTRA's Demands: The union is demanding a more equitable compensation model for streaming work, including residuals based on viewership and a fairer distribution of revenue.

Protecting Actors from AI and Self-Taping

The use of AI to replicate actors' performances is a growing concern for SAG-AFTRA.

• AI Replication: Concerns exist that studios might use AI to replicate actors' performances without their consent, undermining their value and potentially eliminating future work.
• Self-Taping Exploitation: The widespread use of self-taped auditions has led to concerns about the exploitation of actors, who bear the costs of producing high-quality self-tapes without fair compensation.
• SAG-AFTRA's Demands: SAG-AFTRA demands clear regulations and safeguards to prevent the unauthorized use of AI to replicate actors' likenesses and performances, and to establish fair compensation practices for self-taped auditions.

Health and Safety on Set

SAG-AFTRA emphasizes the importance of improving health and safety measures on film and television sets.

• Stunt Performers: The union demands stronger safety protocols for stunt performers, reducing risks and protecting their well-being.
• Child Actors: Protecting child actors is crucial, and SAG-AFTRA advocates for stricter regulations and monitoring on set.
• Overall Safety: The union is pushing for comprehensive safety regulations encompassing all aspects of filming, including adequate rest breaks, proper equipment, and safe working environments.

The Impact of the Double Strike on Hollywood

The combined WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike has created a significant disruption within the entertainment industry.

Economic Fallout and Production Delays

The strike's economic impact is substantial.

• Studio Revenue Loss: Major studios are experiencing significant revenue losses due to the halt in production.
• Production Delays and Cancellations: Numerous film and television productions have been delayed or canceled indefinitely.
• Ripple Effect: The strike affects not only studios and production companies but also related businesses, such as catering services, transportation, and post-production facilities.

The Long-Term Implications for the Entertainment Industry

The long-term effects of this double strike could be profound.

• Contract Negotiations: The outcome of the negotiations will shape future contract negotiations and set precedents for years to come.
• Industry Practices: The strike could lead to significant changes in industry practices, addressing issues of fair compensation, working conditions, and the use of AI.
• Creative Landscape: The potential for a shift in the creative landscape is substantial, impacting how productions are funded, developed, and ultimately produced.

Conclusion

The double strike in Hollywood, involving both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, represents a pivotal moment. The fight for fair contracts, addressing streaming residuals, AI's impact, and working conditions, is crucial for the future of writers and actors. The prolonged disruption highlights the urgent need for studios and streaming platforms to engage in meaningful negotiations and address the legitimate demands of these creative forces. The outcome of these negotiations will significantly shape the entertainment landscape for years to come. Support the writers and actors in their fight for fair contracts and a sustainable future for the entertainment industry. Learn more about the ongoing Hollywood strike and how you can help.