On May 2nd, 2023, Hollywood went on strike, and it is still going on ‘till this day. This strike is named “2023 Writers Guild of America strike.” What was the particular reason for this? Could it have been the way they were getting treated? The reason for this strike is because of residual payments, the usage of artificial intelligence and job protections. Is this really the reason though? I think there could be a hidden reason why they went on strike. Yes, their reasons that are on the internet are reason enough, but I think there is something else going on.
Starting April 18th, 2023, 97.85% of members in the Writers Guild of America all had a vote. If certain expectations with an agreement failed to be shown with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that they would have to go on strike. All these writers are asking is a fairer compensation as well as insurance plan for writers if anything were to go wrong. But I’m thinking that if they aren’t getting paid for writing, what are they living off of after so many months of being on strike?
This just doesn’t go for writers. This goes for actors as well. Hollywood actors are demanding a higher pay wage and an increase in safeguarding around AI rights. With both actors and writers on strike, both demanding the same things. Nothing will happen in Hollywood until they get what they want. I know they will not settle for less knowing that they deserve more because of the hours they work and getting targeted through social media.
I don’t know when this strike is going to end and frankly neither do the ones involved in
the strike. This could go on for many more months. Writers as well as the actors participating, know when they could stop. They have to achieve high expectations because everyone watching the actors and listening to the writers’ dialogue are judging them for every little thing. They have to work double the time, so they don’t let their peers, family and fans down. But I think it all comes down to what is good enough for them and nobody else. I think they should stay on strike because they know what they deserve, they know how they get treated and if it’s worth it to keep getting treated a certain way. Hollywood actors and writers don’t have to stick around because in the end the ones that need them are the bigshot television networks.
