Hollywood screenwriters go on strike to demand better working conditions from the city’s eight major studios. On their first day of protest, fifty writers gathered at the gates of Amazon’s headquarters in Culver City, south of Los Angeles, carrying placards and demanding better wages and more screenwriters on projects. In all, two days later, the strike spread to the studios’ New York offices.
The screenwriters are protesting that the industry is changing and demanding to be paid more for less work. Studios are doing more with fewer people and want to increase the amount of work being done in less time. In addition, screenwriters are being underpaid for royalties, or “residuals.”
The studios offered a 2% raise, while the union demanded 6%. The strike comes after the studios rejected eight of the union’s 14 proposals, including raising the minimum number of writers per project. The strike is the first in Hollywood in 15 years and is expected to continue for some time, as a quick resolution is not expected. The strike has received the support of the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA.
The striking screenwriters are responsible for creating series that earn studios millions of dollars but are not fairly compensated for their work, according to the protesters. The television and film industries rely on screenwriters to create content, and this strike could have a major impact on the production of television shows and movies.