‘Until they lose their homes’: studios’ ruthless stance amid writers’ strike

This Thursday, July 13, American actors joined the screenwriters on the picket line. SAG-AFTRA, the American professional union representing 160,000 actors and actresses, has officially announced a strike. It joins a movement launched on May 2 by the WGA (Writers Guild of America, Screenwriters Guild of America), which has already sought a new agreement with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers).

The two trade unions are demanding a revaluation of rights and working conditions and an increase in wages.

Historic Move It’s been 63 years since Hollywood experienced a double whammy. We really have to go back to 1960 – when Ronald Reagan was president of the Screen Actors Guild – for the last simultaneous strike by the Screen Actors Guild, which led to major advances such as improved rights and screenwriters’ pensions and guarantees. that screenwriters would receive 5% of their net income from films released on television before 1960, as well as the first Guild pension and welfare scheme.

In announcing the SAG-AFTRA strike, the Alliance of Producers released a statement that read: “We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to withdraw from negotiations. This is the Union’s choice, not ours.

In doing so, he rejected our offer of historic salary and residual raises, sharply higher limits on pension and health care contributions, secure hearings, reduced stock option periods, a proposed breakthrough AI that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more. Instead of continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has set us on a path that will compound the financial hardships of thousands of people who depend on the industry to sustain themselves. “

Did you say cynicism?

The AMPTP here tries to weigh the financial difficulties that authors may face in relation to the decision of the Actors’ Union to strike. However, as of July 11 (before the actors’ strike), the American site Deadline published an article in which a veteran of the film industry stated that AMPTP was not going to go after screenwriters.

The producers are going to burn the writers.

“I think we’re on a long strike and the producers are going to fire the writers.”. According to him, the Alliance of Film and Television Producers plans to leave everything as it is until October in order to financially drain the screenwriters.

Thus, AMPTP wants to weaken WGA. An executive of the alliance, who remained anonymous, told the specialist site: “It’s been months since we agreed, even before the WGA strike. Nobody wanted to strike, but everybody knew it was going to be make or break.”

Studios and AMPTP estimate that by October, most screenwriters will run out of money after five months of unemployment.

“The ultimate goal is to keep things going until union members start losing their apartments and their homes.” said a studio executive Deadline. Acknowledging the coldness of the approach, several other sources corroborated the claim. Another leader called it “a cruel but necessary evil.”

Studios and broadcasters believe financially strapped writers are forcing WGA leaders to renew negotiations before the holiday season. In this context, the Alliance will be able to dictate most of the terms of a possible agreement…

The AMPTP seems convinced that “a concession by the writers will lead to every contract cycle by the WGA, IATSE, Teamsters and others ending in a strike,” hence its inaction. Words that the Alliance clearly denied through their spokesperson:“These anonymous individuals do not speak for AMPTP or its member companies, who are committed to reaching an agreement and getting our industry back to work.”

However, discussions between the WGA and AMPTP have not been renewed since the strike began in May last year.

They have an expectation level that is simply not realistic.

Disney CEO Bob Iger commented at a press conference in Sun Valley on CNBC : “This strike is very disturbing for me. We talked about the disruptive forces in the sector and all the challenges we face, the recovery from COVID, which is ongoing but not yet fully recovered. This is the worst time in the world to add this. delay.

I understand the desire of any labor organization to work on behalf of its members to obtain the best possible compensation and receive fair compensation based on the value they bring. We have been able, as an industry, to negotiate a very good agreement with the Directors Guild, which reflects the value that directors bring to this great company. We wanted the same with writers and actors. They have an expectation level that is simply not realistic. And they’re on top of the challenges the industry already faces, which, frankly, are very crippling. “

As Bob Iger points out, talks with the Directors Guild in late May turned out to be really productive, and AMPTP hopes to negotiate with the cast in a few weeks. Even if filming does not resume due to the writers’ strike, the actors will still be able to promote their works ready for release and broadcast.

The Wrath of Ron Perlman

Words that didn’t respond to comedian Ron Perlman in an Instagram post that has since been deleted but is making the rounds on Twitter. The Hellboy singer warned those who would try to “starve” the strikers to death and wait for them to lose their homes.

“One thing before I go… the kid who said they’re going to keep going until people lose their homes and apartments? Hear me out: “There are many ways to lose a home. Some are financial, some are karma, and some figure out who said it – and we know who said it – and where they live.

Then he adds:You wish it on people, you wish it on starving families, while you make $27 million a year for nothing? Be careful, son. Be really careful because these are things that lead to things. Peace.”