Strike in Hollywood: Actors and Writers Unite Against Streaming Giants
The Battle for Residuals
The film and TV industry has come to a standstill, with tens of thousands of actors and writers on strike against the studios. The dispute centers on residual payments, which have dwindled in the era of streaming.
Ron Perlman’s Fiery Response
To get a sense of the animosity in Hollywood, watch how Ron Perlman responded to a report that the studios aimed to prolong the strike long enough for writers to lose their homes. Perlman, the hulking, gravel-voiced actor of “Hellboy,” leaned into the camera in a since-deleted Instagram live video to vent his anger. “Listen to me, mother-(expletive),” Perlman said. “There’s a lot of ways to lose your house.”
The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact
Three years after the pandemic brought Hollywood to a standstill, the industry is still reeling. The recovery is ongoing, with one of the first major film productions shut down by the pandemic – “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” – only just reaching theaters. Box office remains about 20-25% off the pre-pandemic pace.
A Digital Land Rush
A digital land rush to streaming ensued, as studios hurried to craft their Netflix competitors. Subscriber growth became the top priority. Rahul Telang, a Carnegie Mellon University professor, says an entire era of change was condensed into two years. “What is happening right now was bound to happen. With streaming, the whole business got disrupted,” Telang says.
The Last Time This Happened
The last time screen actors and writers struck simultaneously, in 1960, the guilds established royalty (later residual) payments for replays of films and TV episodes. This strike does much the same for the streaming era. But streaming, especially when companies carefully guard audience numbers, offers no easy metric like box office or TV ratings to establish residuals.
The Demands
SAG-AFTRA is seeking a small percentage of subscriber revenue, with data measured by a third party, Parrot Analytics. The AMPTP, which negotiates on behalf of the studios, hasn’t agreed to that but says the studios have offered actors “historic pay and residual increases,” along with pension contributions and other protections.
The Impact
If the strike carries into September, it would greatly impact the fall TV schedule and the film festivals (Venice, Telluride, Toronto) that launch the season’s awards contenders. Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Netflix have all slashed jobs over the past year and a half. Streaming profitability has remained elusive.
Conclusion
The strike in Hollywood is a battle for residuals in the era of streaming. The studios are seeking to prolong the strike, but the actors and writers are united in their demand for fair pay. The outcome of this strike will have far-reaching consequences for the entertainment industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are the actors and writers on strike?
A: The actors and writers are on strike over residual payments, which have dwindled in the era of streaming.
Q: What are the studios offering?
A: The studios have offered actors “historic pay and residual increases,” along with pension contributions and other protections.
Q: Will this strike impact the fall TV schedule and film festivals?
A: Yes, if the strike carries into September, it would greatly impact the fall TV schedule and the film festivals.
Q: Who is supporting the strike?
A: The actors and writers have near-universal support throughout the guilds, including IATSE, which represents below-the-line crew members.
Q: How long has the pandemic impacted the entertainment industry?
A: The pandemic has impacted the entertainment industry for three years, with the recovery still ongoing.
Photo
[AP photo/ Chris Pizello]