Hollywood Strikes Are Over! - SAG-AFTRA agrees to a deal

[CaptainAmerica]

Writing in Hollywood for television used to pretty much be like a structured day-job, and it just doesn't work that way when it's not a network producing 26 episodes and working over 10 months a year.

Retvrn.

Man I would kill for 20+ episode seasons of The Bear, Reservation Dogs, What We Do in the Shadows, Only Murders in the Building, and Stranger Things.

Though at least with Stranger Things their episodes each as long as a feature film.

 

[Casper Gutman]

That isn't even something they are asking for, so it's entirely a theoretical question. You are basically making up a metric that doesn't currently exist. If they did negotiate for some sort of pay-per-play deals, sure, they would have to make the numbers available.

If they suddenly released the numbers, it would not change any of that. Basically, streaming works are for-hire, they hire you for a job, and, knowing that there are no residuals in streaming, that is part of your manager/agents job to make sure that the pay they negotiate for takes that into account. (And, in a lot of cases, they actually do better on front than the .50 cent residual check years later.)

But again, that's not the reason that they are asking for the "books" of these private corporations to be available - and it's not the writers that are demanding it, it's the actors, for the reasons I stated above. It has zero to do with residuals, it's so they have a number on their resumes that they can use as bargaining chips when negotiating between companies for higher salaries ("I got $5 million for my last picture from Netflix, and got 1 billion minutes of views, so I deserve $7 million this time from you").

FWIW, both sides do have legitimate complaints, though it's really the writers who are most shafted. In both cases, it's because the business model is in flux and is in its true infancy - it's like it's 1960 and we are talking about television here, as I believe you pointed out. The thing is, people got very used to the old employment model, but that was based on most content being either big studio movie productions, or television shows on commercial ad-based broadcasts that did 26 episodes a year. The latter especially, is not coming back.

The main issue for the writers is not residuals but actually the "mini-room" phenomenon, which George RR Martin goes into great detail about on his (not a)Blog. It's actually a very legitimate gripe - and among creatives, it's why the writers really have been getting the raw hand of the deal as everyone is figuring out how this business that has operated the same way for more than a half a century gets reworked. Writing in Hollywood for television used to pretty much be like a structured day-job, and it just doesn't work that way when it's not a network producing 26 episodes and working over 10 months a year.

That's why it's a shame that the actors have jumped in and taken the spotlight (who would have thought!), because the writers are the ones who have really been hurting, and taking away the focus on that has really caused an erosion of public interest/support.

I agree with much of this - the writers are the most at risk and the most sympathetic. I’m not sure why you feel writers residuals aren’t an issue - these are the WGA’s demands

https://www.wgaeast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/WGA_proposals.pdf?link_id=1&can_id=a09a8f649a17770eaee0da640da3fdc0&source=email-wga-on-strike-2&email_referrer=email_1901631&email_subject=wga-on-strike

And there’s been quite a bit of coverage of the residual issue (as you correctly point out, with the media often focusing on the stars):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/07/15/actors-strike-what-are-residuals/

Focus: Striking Hollywood writers lament residuals slide

Writer Kyra Jones knew she would be taking a financial hit when she agreed to join the writers' room for the Hulu comedy series "Woke."

www.reuters.com

 

[Casper Gutman]

Dude there's no REVENUE when it's streamed.

When the episode aired on linear TV, advertisers paid the stations, stations paid the distributors, distributors paid the studios, and studios shared their revenue as residuals with the writers and actors. In streaming, there's no revenue coming in for the streamers to pay residuals against.

A better analogy would be: Guy writes a Star Trek episode. In the old days, he gets a check in the mail every time a DVD box set of that season is sold. Should he get a check every time someone put that DVD into their DVD player to watch that episode?

If the DVD owner had to pay a monthly fee to own the DVD? Yes.

If the studios want to eliminate the residuals they’re going to have to make wholesale, sweeping changes to how writers and actors are paid. Saying, “Whoops, media changed, you don’t get paid now,” isn’t going to cut it.

Streaming, in its current form, is unsustainable. I don’t think there’s much dispute over that. I don’t know what the future looks like and neither do you. I suspect ad interruptions will return in force except at the most exorbitantly priced levels. Most streamers will fold and studios will resume selling product to outside companies. A financially beneficial model will emerge. And the actors and writers must position themselves to benefit, just as when the landscape changed with TV.

 

[TsWade2]

I know I maybe a little bit naive, but I hope the writers and (possibly actors) accept the fair and better deal to end the Hollywood strike.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I don't have a dog in this fight other than a general interest in muse-y topics like where the world and technology is headed. It seems to me that writers and actors are in a bad position. I can see why they would look at that dynamic and think it's time to lock in protections, but unfortunately, I think making demands right now will only accelerate a worsening situation. Then again, doing nothing would have been a slower walk down the same road, imo, so I don't think they had a lot of good options.

I think the closest analogs to the entertainment industry right now are the music industry and journalism. While I don't claim to understand it in depth, my understanding is that musicians have not fared well in this new landscape (at least in regard to royalties). Similarly, there were a huge number of media outlets that shut down when the news went online, and I believe that now journalists are often competing with free lancers and bloggers and paid less overall.

It seems to me that this dynamic replays itself where 'stuff being available for free online' comes into play. At first piracy was the issue, but now it's competition with content creators who put things online with no or (often) minimal reimbursement. For every million dollar Youtube channel, there are thousands more doing it for a pittance, as a hobby, or for the 'likes'.

There has been a lot of talk about AI and the entertainment industry. I think it will be a long time (if ever) before something like ChatGP is writing scripts, or CGI actors escape the uncanny valley. But I don't think that matters. There are still far, far more would-be actors and actresses than there are jobs. In the new landscape, there are an increasing number of 'Influencers' who have sway, as the number of actors and actresses who will sell tickets on name alone is likely shrinking.

It seems to me that sky high profits have only been possible when a small group (as the old philosophical argument goes,) 'owns the means of production'. From the days when you needed a grand opera house to the days when you needed crazy expensive production studios. In between have been periods of wandering minstrels, burlesque shows, carnival acts, and now, iPhone entertainers. I think there is a natural ebb and flow where small independent producers get bought up by big businesses, and then a reversal when changing circumstances allow for populist redistribution again.

 

[TP2000]

Is the clip deceptively edited? I'm asking that sincerely.

It's not. She said this at a SAG-AFTRA event designed to attract media attention. And she said it to a clearly identified reporter from Entertainment Tonight, and it was released by Entertainment Tonight, and the statement from Miss Zegler was easy to understand.

She simply feels that she deserves to be paid for every hour of streaming that Disney may make in the future now that her Snow White movie has finished production and her highly paid acting gig for that movie is over.

 

[wtyy21]

I know I maybe a little bit naive, but I hope the writers and (possibly actors) accept the fair and better deal to end the Hollywood strike.

Sincerely hope that the federal government and U.S. Congress intervenes with them, since it would distrupt the core of entertainment industry as well.

 

[TP2000]

Here a hateful site is using an edited clip (not incidentally of a Hispanic woman) to attempt to label and discredit an entire strike and inspire rage in readers who follow the feed specifically to have their rage fed. Posters on these boards have shown how effective it is.

I mean this rather kindly, but what on earth are you talking about?

Miss Zegler was invited to the SAG-AFTRA event, wore her assigned union t-shirt to the event, and was purposely placed by the event organizer to attract media attention (who were also invited by SAG-AFTRA) to deliver statements and communications to a very sympathetic media.

And she did that exactly as planned and approved, as she is a professional actress after all.

The problem is that the statement she chose to offer up to an identified reporter for one of the biggest media industry machines in America (Entertainment Tonight) fell incredibly flat to many folks. But, that's not how Miss Zegler's statement was initially framed or released. It is still being used in Social Media by people who agree with her and think she's stunning & brave for saying it. Like this person...

 

[TsWade2]

 

[Jedijax719]

Zegler certainly isn't doing herself or her movie any favors, is she?

 

[Tha Realest]

Zegler certainly isn't doing herself or her movie any favors, is she?

You’d think the star of West Side Story and Shazam: Fury of the Gods would have a bit more humility by now.

 

[Jedijax719]

You’d think the star of West Side Story and Shazam: Fury of the Gods would have a bit more humility by now.

Well if she were Jodie Foster or Meryl Streep, she could say that she has at least earned her right to speak her mind openly even if it affects her projects. But just starting off? Not a good look or move.

 

[TsWade2]

I give up! The Hollywood strike will never end! The AMPTP are total greedy jerks!

 

[Phroobar]

I hope they stay on strike forever. There are other forms of entertainment out there like streaming, books, dvds, video games, music, friends & family, travel, sports, bowling, mini golf and the internet. Heck, we have over hundred years of superior entertainment already made by Hollywood. The writers have made crap so far this year.

 

[Phroobar]

It's not. She said this at a SAG-AFTRA event designed to attract media attention. And she said it to a clearly identified reporter from Entertainment Tonight, and it was released by Entertainment Tonight, and the statement from Miss Zegler was easy to understand.

She simply feels that she deserves to be paid for every hour of streaming that Disney may make in the future now that her Snow White movie has finished production and her highly paid acting gig for that movie is over.

Good thing she ain't getting any hours from me.

 

[TsWade2]

I hope they stay on strike forever. There are other forms of entertainment out there like streaming, books, dvds, video games, music, friends & family, travel, sports, bowling, mini golf and the internet. Heck, we have over hundred years of superior entertainment already made by Hollywood. The writers have made crap so far this year.

Oh, don't go there!

 

[GimpYancIent]

Sincerely hope that the federal government and U.S. Congress intervenes with them, since it would distrupt the core of entertainment industry as well.

President Ronald Reagan (He Was an Actor before becoming Governor of California and President) very correctly stated "The nine most feared words in the English language are I'm from The Government and am here to Help." So yeah, let's get the folks in the government involved. Let's see what kind of real mess evolves.

 

[TsWade2]

Sincerely hope that the federal government and U.S. Congress intervenes with them, since it would distrupt the core of entertainment industry as well.

I don’t think our Governor of California will do any good, but I hope so.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

To be honest I think everyone is starting lose interest in the strikes.

 

[wtyy21]

Zegler certainly isn't doing herself or her movie any favors, is she?

I truly appreciated Zegler for her excellent role as actress. However, her appearance as Snow White has caused controversy by all sides, particularly right-leaning and centrist netizens who are mad regarding casting controversy and changing the plot from the original 1937 film. There's far more backlash regarding Zegler's role as Snow White than how Bailey's casting role as Ariel.

Also, films that she casting was flop (West Side Story and Shazam 2), so many of them have a doubt about whether her performance as Snow White can deliver critical acclaim from the audiences and viewers alike.