The WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) has been on strike for 108 days, and with the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union joining in last month. The strikes have caused a halt in production for several fan favorites, including Young Sheldon, The One Chicago Franchise, The Simpsons, Abbott Elementary, Stranger Things, and many more. With all the shows on hold, many networks have struggled to fill Fall rosters. ABC’s new roster is almost entirely made up of reality shows, including popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Rookie missing from the line-up.
Why Strike?
A common misconception is that writers are rich. The truth is that many writers struggle to pay the bills. They already receive low wages which are continuing to decrease with the popularity of streaming and the rise of AI. The goal of the strike is for Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to raise the minimum basic agreement, which is the writing equivalent of minimum wage. This would help writers make a living wage.
How Do Writers Get Paid?
It’s no surprise that writers get paid by the job, but how exactly does that work? The most common ways writers get paid include selling a movie or tv idea, writing a screenplay, revising a screenplay, writing a book and/or having it optioned (selling the movie rights), and being hired to write for a tv show. The other way that writers make money is through residuals. A writer receives residuals if they are credited as a writer on a show or movie.
How Has the Strike Changed?
So far the Networks have been holding out, with one even saying that they would wait until writers started losing their homes, but things changed when SAG-AFTRA actor’s union got involved. Last month the actor’s union decided to join the strike, further shutting down Hollywood. The actors are striking for better pay and regulations on the use of AI in creating shows and movies.
Similar to WGA members, actors get most of their income from residuals. The problem is that residuals have been going down and streaming is going up. When a show is re-aired on a streaming platform, actors only receive a small payment for their shows being on the platform. The actors are no longer being paid for each time a show or movie is streamed, and instead, they receive a general payment for the show being available for viewers. This change is causing many actors to no longer be supported by their career.
In addition, actors want to limit the use of AI in filming. With the advances in AI, it has become possible for them to scan actors, possibly eliminating the need for background actors and extras and with potential to erase any need for actors all together.
Celebrities Are Showing Their Support
Some of your favorite celebrities have been showing their support for WGA, as well as SAG-AFTRA. Writers like Lin Manuel Miranda and John Mulaney, as well as many established actors are showing their support on the front lines. Some actors include: SNL stars Tina Fey, Fred Armisen, and Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion from Castle, Yvette Nicole Brown from Community, Mark Hamill from Star Wars, Amanda Seyfried from Mamma Mia and Means Girls, Bill Nye, Jennifer Coolidge from White Lotus, and the [entire] cast of The Good Place. There are also many talk show hosts showing support, including Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno, Seth Meyers, Drew Barrymore, and others. Even musicians like the Imagine Dragons came to show support. This is just a fraction of the celebrities showing support for WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
Conclusion
Many people wonder why writers and actors deserve more money, and the truth is we enjoy watching their work. Simply put, it is the rule of supply and demand. People rely on actors and writers to provide entertainment, meaning there is a demand for them. However, most writers and many actors don’t make enough money to live, which makes it challenging for them to supply the demand for entertainment. Writers and actors work hard to do their jobs, and they deserve to make enough money to live and continue to do their jobs. Writing and acting are careers!
Jasmine Leavens • Sep 22, 2023 at 11:28 am
Considering how expensive it is to live in California, the fact that actors can’t afford to live where they work is a big problem. If you want to show support, you can donate to the sag-aftras emergency financial assistance program or any other fundraiser that will help support actors.