Why Hollywood Writers Are On Strike & Affected Shows

Film, TV shows and TV series writers in Hollywood under the Writers Guild of America (WGA), are on strike.

The guild announced the strike on May 2, 2023.

Last time the guild went on strike for about a hundred days was in 2007 and 2008, that’s fifteen years ago.

The guild proceeded with the strike after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) which bargains on behalf of the nine largest studios, failed to reach an agreeable contract.

The writers are demanding standardized compensation for screen writing, better residuals or royalties, and that studios increase contributions to the pension plan and health fund of writers.

According to USA Today, Hollywood has changed significantly since the rise of streaming services, which has upended the traditional pay structure in the industry, and as WGA argues has led to writers working longer for less pay (as streaming series often have longer production schedules but fewer episodes (8 or 13) per season contrary to TV where a broadcast series once produced 22 or more episodes each season).

Similarly, residuals or royalties which earn writers, actors and producers’ money after a TV show’s debut when it airs or streams elsewhere, are lower for streaming shows than for broadcast shows that air on reruns on cable or syndication. These lower minimums were established when streaming was in its infancy, and because streamers often insist on exclusivity, limiting their distribution elsewhere.

“The companies’ behaviour has created a gig economy inside a union workforce and their immovable stance in this negotiation has betrayed a commitment to further devaluing the profession of writing … They have closed the door on their labour force and opened the door on their labour force and opened the door to writing as an entirely profession. No such deal could ever be contemplated by this membership,” stated the guild in a press statement.

On the other hand, the AMPTP said it presented a comprehensive package proposal to the guild on April 30, which included generous increases in compensation for writers as well as improvements in streaming residuals. We also indicated to the WGA that it is prepared to improve that offer, but was unwilling to do so because of the magnitude of other proposals still on the table that the guild continues to insist upon.”

At the moment the strike has affected daily TV shows like ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, and NBC’s The Tonight Show. Popular shows like Abbot Elementary (which finished shooting for its second season) and Cobra Kai (which has also finished shooting for its sixth and final season) are on dark, meaning the writers room for both shows has completely closed, but the longer the strike, the longer it would take for Abbot Elementary to return onscreen.

Writing for Season 2 of House of the Dragon is finished, so production will continue as planned. Showtime’s Yellowjackets writers only spent a day in the writers’ room before the strike broke. Production on Season 2 of Night Court started before the strike, but is expected to go dark for now same as Good Omens.