The Hollywood writers’ strike has impacted a variety of individuals at different levels in their careers. In a recent article published in The Hollywood Reporter, an anonymous writer recounted their experience picketing with an old friend who had recently experienced the loss of his show. The show had been picked up to series, and after creating a wildly ambitious program that showcased his vision, it was then feted, marketed, reviewed, recapped, think-pieced, podcasted about, DVRed, and streamed. However, after only one season, the show was cancelled, which is increasingly common as networks and streamers constantly seek the next big thing, with less patience for the slow and steady process of audience building.
The writer’s friend, however, was not upset by the cancellation of his show. Instead, what weighed heavily on him was the fact that the series had been pulled from the parent company’s streaming service in order to save on having to pay residuals, royalties, or any other metrics that merit this increasingly common deletion of content, both new and old. The show, which had been passionately crafted by hundreds of individuals, no longer existed. The promise of streaming was one of near-perpetuity in the content library, waiting to be discovered by a new audience, but things have changed. Nowadays, there is no actual malice or contempt at the forefront of such corporate decisions. Instead, it is a matter of keeping investors happy and cutting some numbers to make other numbers bigger.
The writer’s account of their experiences is a stark reminder that in the machinery of late-stage capitalism, labor is not people. Labor is simply a box in a spreadsheet, and this is what the strike aims to address. The strike is a desperate, loud, and unpleasant reminder to the gilded few that they are humans and together, they are mighty.
The writer’s experience is not a rare one, but rather a common occurrence in the entertainment industry. Another example of this is when a writer learned early on in their career that they were just another number in the system. The writer was given an incredible opportunity to write a movie for one of the major studios. They slogged through meeting after meeting, adjusted, rewrote, reimagined, and finally turned in a final draft that the producer and studio loved. They were elated, but everything changed. The momentum shifted, cultural tides ebbed, and suddenly, the writer received a copy of their own script from the producer of the movie, with a note that read, “Hey, you’re one of our favorite writers! Here is a movie we like but feel could use some fresh eyes. Read it and tell us what you think.” They’d sent the writer their own script to see if they wanted to rewrite it.
While it’s not surprising that a writer’s feelings and bottom line are often disregarded in the industry, it is often not a lot of money that is being haphazardly trimmed. A writer who was under a TV overall with a big studio was actively working on the final season of their longest running show, had just created their first-ever network show to be ordered to the series, and had sold a second script. One day, they received a call from their agent, informing them that the studio was cancelling their overall deal. The studio eventually reversed its decision and issued an apology, stating that a Business Affairs executive had made a mistake. For the writer, however, the damage was done.
The experiences shared in the article highlight the need for a change in the entertainment industry. It is essential to recognize that labor is not merely a box in a spreadsheet, but rather individuals who contribute to the creation of art and entertainment. The strike is a reminder to the industry that these individuals are humans who deserve respect, fair treatment, and the opportunity to exercise their creative vision.
In summary, the writer’s account of their experiences in the industry highlights some of the common issues that arise in the entertainment industry, including the disregard for writers and their work, the focus on profits over people, and the importance of the strike in highlighting these issues. The strike offers a chance for the industry to shift its priorities and recognize the value of the labor of writers and other creatives who contribute to the content that shapes our culture.
