Hollywood writers marked the one centesimal day of their industry-crippling strike Wednesday, dubbing the event a “milestone of shame” for studios as the 2 sides stay deadlocked.
Since early May, the Writers Guild of America walkout has introduced numerous movie shoots and productions to a halt, costing the California financial system tens of millions of {dollars} every day, however the two sides have barely spoken.
The chaos wrought on the leisure {industry} solely deepened final month, when writers had been joined on the picket traces by the far bigger Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA).
“The refusal to take writers’ reasonable proposals seriously has caused the WGA strike to last 100 days and counting; it serves only as a milestone of shame” for the studios, the WGA informed AFP.
The studios “are wholly responsible for the over three-month shutdown of the industry and the pain it has caused workers and all others whose livelihoods depend on this business,” stated a union assertion.
Writers and actors are demanding higher pay and residuals, ensures over the longer term use of synthetic intelligence, and different working circumstances.
“The cost of settling the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes is far less than the damage their intractability has caused,” stated the WGA assertion.
Coincidentally, the final WGA strike, in 2007-08, was resolved after precisely 100 days.
That stoppage value $2.1 billion to the California financial system, in keeping with one estimate by the Milken Institute.
This time, there isn’t a obvious finish in sight.
Writers and studios tentatively gathered final Friday to debate formally reopening talks for the primary time since May, however the sitdown has not yielded any tangible outcomes.
Hours earlier than they even met, a WGA missive to members expressed skepticism in regards to the studios’ good religion. The studios hit again with a terse assertion calling the writers’ rhetoric “unfortunate.”
- Disney ‘dedicated’ –
Writers say studios have been methodically eroding their salaries for years, making it not possible for all however the very high ranks to earn a dwelling.
They contend that the rise of streaming platforms — who don’t usually reveal viewing figures — has disadvantaged them of large paydays once they create world hits.
On the picket line exterior Netflix’s places of work Wednesday, screenwriter Charlie Kesslering stated the strike is an “existential fight.”
“This is about the careers that we love so much remaining careers, and remaining viable as a way to make a living — especially in an expensive city like Los Angeles, where you have to live if you want a career in this business,” he informed AFP.
“It’s going to take a lot more than 100 days for the motivation to go away.”
Also on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger informed buyers on an earnings name that he was “personally committed” to discovering “solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months.”
Iger has develop into a spotlight of anger for strikers, after giving an interview final month through which he known as their walkout “disturbing” and “not realistic.”
Adopting a extra conciliatory be aware Wednesday, Iger expressed “deep respect and appreciation for all those who are vital to the extraordinary creative engine that drives this company, and our industry.”
But in its assertion, the WGA warned: “Ultimately, the studios have no choice but to make a fair deal.”
“Until then, we remain resolved and united.”
© 2023 AFP