Decker

Here comes the strike.

DJariya

The WGA just voted 98% to strike if no deal is reached by May 1st

Twitter

There is a really old thread about the 2007 strike that crippled the industry. But, I prefer not to resurrect that as a lot of the information is super old now.

Here is the tally of the vote

Twitter

They have avoided a strike at the last minute 3 years ago and even before that. But, what does this mean if it does happen? It will shut down production of cable, streaming and network TV if they strike again for the 2023-24 production cycle. Stuff like House of the Dragon, Rings of Power and new seasons of shows currently being written will have to shut down.

I read that writer's are really getting screwed over on residuals, especially with streaming. Everyone needs to get paid fairly and being a writer is basically a freelance gig and you get paid by the job and they live off those residuals, especially when they are not working.

Jay G.

More info on this year's contract negotiation at this site:
https://www.wgacontract2023.org/

MLBFan24

Looking forward to more reality shows. Firing up more Below Deck!

General Zod

This is terrific news. It will allow me to catch up on all shows people are telling me I should be watching that I don't have time to. if this strike could last, like, 10 years.. I should be all caught up by then.

Deftones

On one hand, sucks not to have new content. But this is completely different than the last strike. Streaming was not nearly ubiquitous as it is now. There is a ton of shit I could probably find to watch that I don't have time for or had minimal interest in and haven't got to. Not horribly worried at this point.

DJariya

Oh there is more than enough movies and shows now to pass the time unlike in 2007. Streaming wasn’t even a thing in 2007. There’s probably a massive backlog of already filmed projects.

But no one wants to see another strike and new seasons of their favorite programs delayed. I think the writer’s really need to hard ball with the studios who have been screwing them for years.

Red Dog

That was my first thought as well.

JeffTheAlpaca

I hope SNL airs its standard 3 episodes in May.

Would the cast members strike to since they write some of the sketches or they could still do shows with the cast writing sketches or maybe get former cast members to be on those shows?

Maybe Fallon and the late night hosts could still do shows but with no monologues or skits but with guests only?

DJariya

Anyone who is a member of the WGA would strike.

And talk shows need writers. We dont need a Jay Leno show fiasco when he ad libbed everything that year.

Deftones

Conan did an amazing job ad-libbing during it.

Decker

Ah yes, that magical moment in time when we were all shocked to discover that without writers, Jay Leno was somehow even LESS funny.

The biggest casualty was Quantum of Solace which was made pretty much without a completed script, and it showed.

MLBFan24

Solution - use artificial intelligence to write screenplays

The HR division at my workplace discovered people were using AI programs to write the essay part of the job application process.

JeffTheAlpaca

If there is any good news the TV season ends in May so probably enough time to settle before writing for the fall or 2023-2024 TV season.

Deftones

Absolutely incorrect. Most shows start filming in June or July for fall premieres. Scripts need to be done by then to get the shows started on time.

Runaway

This time around we would still have enough content and the broadcast networks aren't the main source of content anymore, but it could probably hurt shows, who are on hiatus. They could be cancelled.

JeffTheAlpaca

I remember 2007 and Heroes came back for a shortened season 2 and it was awful.

Maybe that was the jump the shark moment began for Heroes.

DJariya

Network TV and talk shows would be the ones most immediately affected by a strike.

Cable shows on HBO and Showtime and streaming shows would have a little more leeway since they don't air in traditional schedules and aren't cranking out scripts non-stop. But, I do recall the 1st season of Breaking Bad was affected on AMC and they only filmed 7 episodes.

and yes I do recall what a cluster fuck Quantum of Solace was because they had no script and just made up shit as they went along.

Why So Blu?

Pay the writers. It's simple. Ass clinching assholes in power really like to cheap out on one of the least expensive components of their productions.

cultshock

Yeah, that strike crippled Heroes as well as some other film/televion projects.

Like some others have mentioned, a strike would at least give me a chance to catch up on a shitload of shows that I haven't had a chance to watch yet.

DeFan

I hope they strike and I hope they win. I was a SAG member in 2008 (bit parts, extra work, and lots of auditions) and until AFTRA sold us out we had a chance at a decent wage increase. I've met maybe 8 people who voted for the merger and there are way more low level people who voted against the merger but still it happened. It's possible there was some collusion with AMPTP. The writers are more independent but will probably get sold out too.

DJariya

Don't expect any Canadian scabs. The Writer's Guild of Canada is supporting the WGA

Twitter

But, I'm sure there are a number of already filmed Canadian shows that the networks would buy if they need content. The CW has bought a number of them. I remember in 2007, CBS bought Flashpoint due to the strike. And that was actually a good series and stuck around airing in the states after the strike.

Runaway

Flashpoint really was good show. CBS also aired re-edited episodes of Dexter, just to fill the air. Shows like Heroes and Prison Break got crippled. Quantum of Solace and Transformers 2 filmed without scripts. I never understood why though. There should at least be a first draft before they start shooting anything of this size.All things considered Quantum of Solace isn't that bad.

Decker

What exactly is the WGA asking for? And who are they negotiating with? The Studios or the PGA?

DJariya

The AMPTP. The Alliance for Motion Picture Television Producers. They represent the studios.

This article covers some of the bullet points the writers are seeking

https://deadline.com/2023/03/hollywo...ks-1235281682/

And this goes into more details about the pay disparity with network and streaming

https://deadline.com/2023/03/hollywo...ay-1235298653/