Is Hollywood Suffering? Recent Hollywood Labor Stoppages Continue to Impact the Quality and Output of Productions
A couple of weeks ago I received a question from a reader regarding the recent strikes in Hollywood:
“The writer’s strike has been impacting what is on my TV. Shows were pulled off the air, film productions were slowed down and the quality of the output suffered enormously. Do you have any insight on whether the writers’ strike was for the better of public policy or the worse of the quality of entertainment?”
“Why does the turn of events feel that TV will never be the same?”
First, I want to thank this reader for their question, and I’d like to acknowledge that I’m definitely no expert on this topic, but I may be able to offer some insight. I also want to emphasize that the outlook of the industry is shifting daily, as the actors union (SAG-AFTRA) continues on strike against the AMPTP. Regardless, here’s my two cents on what’s been going on and where I think the industry might be headed as a result of the recent and ongoing Hollywood strikes.
The writers were the first to initiate the strike, which persisted for just under five months until the WGA and the AMPTP managed to reach an agreement on Sept. 27. The WGA were successful in their striking efforts, obtaining wage and residual income protections, as well as regulations surrounding the use of AI software in writing processes. This victory is promising for the future of the industry as it will likely promote spaces where writers are more appreciated, ultimately encouraging a higher degree of quality in Hollywood productions.
Now, the same can be said for actors, though they remain on strike. The actors union quickly followed the striking endeavors of the WGA, however they have yet to reach an agreement, marking this as the longest labor dispute in SAG-AFTRA history. As a result, much of the work for planned productions has been halted, with many projects postponed.
No significant changes to the industry will happen overnight. And much of the decline in output and quality that we’ve been seeing recently has come as a result of the nearly five month long labor hiatus within the industry. Even though writers have now gone back to work, actors are still absent from working on new projects, so it looks like TV and film may continue to suffer into the near future.
Once the actors’ strike is resolved, the output of Hollywood productions will expectedly bounce back, but it is unknown when that could be. Though things may get worse before they get better, the strikes are crucial to the longevity of the industry and will promote productions of higher quality in the long run.
If you haven’t yet, check out my previous articles over the WGA strikes, and if you have any questions or thoughts about how you think things might play out in the industry leave me a comment below or email me at contact@saobserver.com.
