After approaching five antagonizing months since the strike began between the Writer’s Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, both sides are finally looking to end it at long last. It was reported yesterday that both sides had reached an agreement with one another, which might finally put to rest the strike that has gone on for 146 days and counting. This deal still needs to be approved by the WGAW Board and WGAE Council before it becomes 100% official. However, since I highly doubt anyone from either side wants to keep this dragging for much longer, I would be surprised if it gets denied. Even if we manage to live in the timeline that this deal is disapproved by the very higher ups, it’s at least a good sign that both sides seem to be on the same page for once.
As we await to see the response from the Board and Council, the attention should now be turned to other matters with groups in entertainment that still needs to be resolved. While it’s great that this current strike with the writers might come to an end, it’s only the beginning.
Of course, there is also the strike that’s also still happening with SAG-AFTRA, (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). You also have the inevitable strikes that is likely to occur once the time comes with animators and the video game industry. And even if it doesn’t relate to anyone of these companies mentioning, we also need to direct our attention to VFX artists from Marvel and Disney that is looking to go on strike as well. All the end of the writer’s strike has indicated that it was just one battle won during a war that is far from over.
The next likely step is to end the strike with the SAG-AFTRA since that is still currently happening as we speak. And considering the holiday season is just around the corner with the last remaining big movies of the year such as The Marvels, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Wish, and Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom, it would be best to have the actors available to promote those films which would help greatly with the marketing campaign for these films. And of course, it would be nice to end this as soon as possible so the actors can actually be allowed to film their movies and television series and prevent any further delays on them, which is likely going to come no matter what. Even when that gets resolved, there will be still other things to focus on.
There is also the possibility of a strike with the video game industry, most notably with actors attached to gaming franchises that are a part of the SAG-AFTRA. The last strike with gaming companies occurred in 2016 to 2017, lasting 183 days! The guild’s national board had voted unanimously to send a strike authorization vote to members in preparation of its upcoming bargaining dates with 10 signatory video game companies. Voting started on September 5 and is suppose to end today on September 25. If it’s to be believed, then another strike will likely occur just seven years since the last one in the video game industry.
It should be worth mentioning that this will not affect ALL gaming companies out there but at least 10 major companies. These companies include Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character voices, EA, Epic Games, Formosa, Insomniac Games, Take 2, VoiceWorks, and WB Games. While not ever notable game company is listed, there is not doubt that video games will take a hit for a while just like films and tv shows will in the upcoming future if a strike is commenced.
You also got eyes that should be looked upon the animation industry. With their deal with the higher ups set to expire next year, don’t be surprised to start hearing whispers about animators going on strike. We’ve already had a discussion over the Across the Spider-Verse fiasco but that’s literally only one film that was REPORTED to have such dire circumstances for animators. I’m willing to be once a strike with the animation industry is likely to occur, you will be constant reports of other big animated films having very troubled productions to animators that were involved. Sure, there were certain animated films that was reported to have a smooth production like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem but not every film has a open-minded caring producer like Seth Rogen. If this happens, this could possibly be an even bigger strike than the one with Disney that occurred in 1941.
Lastly, it is worth bringing up the union strike that is going on with VFX artists between Disney and Marvel. This is not necessarily one that is under control from the likes of WGA, SAG-AFTRA, or AMPTP but it is one worth addressing. With the reports of crunch culture growing rapidly throughout the entertainment industry, there is likely not one group that has fallen victim of that than with VFX artists. I’ve already worth a piece on this last month so I won’t go too much in depth with this but I bring this up because it’s worth bringing up. It’s been reported that Marvel and Disney workers have unanimously voted to unionize with IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) in the hopes of creating a healthier work environment, fair pay, and a proper work-life balance. If this move is successful, let this be a learn to other studios out there to treat their VFX artists with respect and remember that they are all human beings who need time to themselves.
As you can probably see by now, there’s still plenty of problems that needs fixing in Hollywood. Even if they were able to have one matter solved, there’s still many more to be solved for the foreseeable future. With all the current movements that’s going on right now, this looks to be the turning point for filmmaking in Hollywood. A time where they will come to realize that the likes of A.I. are NOT the answer to everything and are only the answer to certain things. A time where they can no longer take the people who work on these successful films for granted. A time where they must change for the better or they will die worse as a result.
Nevertheless, the writer’s strike is likely over now and hopefully this is a sign of good things to come for entertainment as a whole!
Adam's Blog 