Hollywood has been a part of our lives for as long as we can remember! It has produced iconic movies like The Godfather (1972) and cult classic web series like Breaking Bad (2008). The film industry has evolved significantly and thrives on the fundamental elements of storytelling and concepts, with the job of execution handled by writers. Each script is like the writer’s child, each with a unique personality and emotions.
Over the years, many production houses have mistreated their writers by providing low wages and unfair contracts with no health care or pension programs. In times like this, organizations like WGA strike against such unjust practices.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the union that acts for movie and film writers, helping them reach agreements with entertainment companies. WGA is a broad term for two different American labor unions – the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), based in New York, and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), based in Los Angeles, which have common activities but are separate entities.
In 2023, the Writers Guild of America conducted a lasting strike against the entertainment industry, lasting up to 148 days (May 2 to September 27), to address labor disputes with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The main issues discussed during the strike included an increase in royalties, contributions to pension plans, mandatory staffing of writing rooms, and safeguards against AI.
Royalties can be explained as an agreement between the writers who possess the scripts and the producers who agree to pay the writer a certain amount of money for the use of their work. Writers are typically expected to receive 2-5% of the total revenue generated. However, the entertainment industry has created a toxic environment for writers, with some making about $40,000 annually, if they are more established. After the strike, income increased to $70,000.
A pension plan became compulsory to provide stability. According to WGAW’s website, the writer becomes a part of the pension plan once the employer makes the first required payment into it for them. Writers are also entitled to receive pension benefits when they retire, even if they stop working before the retirement age.
The fear of the use of AI in the entertainment industry was one of the main reasons this strike occurred. By the end of the strike, WGA agreed with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, stating that “the studios cannot use AI to write or edit scripts that have already been written by the writer,” which satisfied many writers. Over the years, many production houses have mistreated their writers by providing low wages and unfair contracts with no health care or pension programs. In times like this, organizations like WGA strike against such unfair practices.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the union that acts on behalf of movie and film writers, helping them reach agreements with entertainment companies. WGA is a broad term for two different American labor unions – the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), based in New York, and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), based in Los Angeles, which have common activities but are separate entities.
In 2023, the Writers Guild of America conducted a lasting strike against the entertainment industry, lasting up to 148 days (May 2 to September 27), to address labor disputes with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The main issues discussed during the strike included an increase in royalties, contributions to pension plans, mandatory staffing of writing rooms, and safeguards against AI.
Royalties can be explained as an agreement between the writers who possess the scripts and the producers who agree to pay the writer a certain amount of money for the use of their work. Writers are typically expected to receive 2-5% of the total revenue generated. However, the entertainment industry has created a toxic environment for writers, with some making about $40,000 annually, if they are more established. After the strike, income increased to $70,000.
A pension plan became compulsory to provide stability. According to WGAW’s website, the writer becomes a part of the pension plan once the employer makes the first required payment into it for them. Writers are also entitled to receive pension benefits when they retire, even if they stop working before the retirement age.
The fear of extensive use of AI in the entertainment industry was one of the main reasons the strike took place. By the end of the strike, WGA agreed with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, stating that the studios cannot use AI to write or edit scripts that have already been written by the writer, which satisfied many writers.
While these agreements are made, some people who are not involved in the industry wonder if the use of AI is so bad! I wonder what they will feel if they get replaced by AI in their job. Will they understand the writer’s pain by then?
Written by: Prutha Teredesai
