LOS ANGELES – Hollywood writers marked the 100th day of their industry-crippling strike on Wednesday, dubbing the occasion a “milestone of shame” for studios as the two sides remain deadlocked.
Since early May, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) walkout has brought countless film shoots and productions to a halt, costing the California economy millions of dollars each day, but the two sides have barely spoken.
The chaos wrought on the entertainment industry only deepened in July, when writers were joined on the picket lines by the far larger 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,” said the WGA.
“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,” said a union statement.
Writers and actors are demanding better pay and residuals, guarantees over the future use of artificial intelligence, and other working conditions.
Coincidentally, the last WGA strike, in 2007 to 2008, was resolved after exactly 100 days. That stoppage cost US$2.1 billion (S$2.8 billion) to the California economy, according to one estimate.
Writers and studios tentatively gathered last Friday to discuss formally reopening talks for the first time since May, but the sit-down has not yielded any tangible results.
Writers say studios have been methodically eroding their salaries for years, making it impossible for all but the very top ranks to earn a living.
They contend that the rise of streaming platforms – which do not generally reveal viewing figures – has deprived them of giant paydays when they create global hits.
On the picket line outside Netflix’s offices on Wednesday, screenwriter Charlie Kesslering said 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 added.
“It’s going to take a lot more than 100 days for the motivation to go away.”
Also on Wednesday, Disney chief executive Bob Iger told investors on an earnings call that he was committed to finding “solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months”.
Mr Iger has become a focus of anger for strikers, after giving an interview in July in which he called their walkout “disturbing” and “not realistic”.
Adopting a more conciliatory note on Wednesday, he 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 statement, the WGA warned: “Ultimately, the studios have no choice but to make a fair deal. Until then, we remain resolved and united.” AFP
