Thousands of screenwriters for series and films in Hollywood will stop working on Tuesday. This was announced by the powerful U.S. Writers' Union (WGA) on Monday evening in Los Angeles, after talks with the film studios and streaming platforms ended without an agreement. The board members of the Writers Guild of America "have unanimously decided to call a strike based on the powers conferred on them by their members," the union said on Twitter. The strike will begin on Tuesday after midnight.
Given the great growth of streaming services, the scriptwriters are demanding more salary and a greater share of the profits. So far, they have received a fixed annual salary from the platforms – even though series such as "Bridgerton" or "Stranger Things" develop into worldwide successes and are seen by hundreds of millions of viewers. In addition, the series often remain on the platforms for years. The authors therefore call for a revision of the current rules for their compensation.
At the salary floor
According to the union, despite inflation, salaries have remained the same or even decreased, making it increasingly difficult for authors to make a living. Currently, more of them than ever were working at the salary floor, while productions were hiring fewer and fewer people for shorter series. Studios, on the other hand, argue that costs need to be cut due to economic pressure.
Most recently, the screenwriters went on strike in 2007 after failed talks with the studios. They laid down their pens for 100 days, which cost the entertainment industry in Los Angeles about two billion dollars (1.82 billion euros).