The Writers Guild of America went on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers this past May, demanding liveable wages, improved conditions in development rooms and protections against artificial intelligence.
After 148 days of fighting, the two organizations released a new contract titled “Memorandum of Agreement for the 2023 WGA Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement,” ending the writers’ strike.
The need for a strike was born out of the way people watch television series and movies on streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix. These platforms began producing series with seasons ranging from 8 -12 episodes each season and excluding writers from receiving producing fees. Because studios are ordering less episodes, it makes writing for streaming services an unstable job.
This new method of viewership turned the industry into one where writers were constantly taking on short-term projects and financially depending on those jobs. The fear of wondering whether a particular job will be the last good one became a reality for many Hollywood writers.
The new contract pledges to protect writers from the unethical practice of using artificial intelligence to write and edit scripts and screenplays. In the agreement, major studios raised the minimum wage for writers each year they have worked, starting with a 5% increase in their first year to 3.5% by their third year.
The contract also increased health and pension benefits and includes incentives like minimum staffing requirements in development rooms, data transparency and success-based residuals, which allows writers to receive a bonus based on viewership if a television series or movie becomes a huge hit.
With the end of the writers’ strike, popular shows like Saturday Night Live and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are back. Now performers and actors are demanding bigger royalties and better financial stability. Clearly, the 2023 writers’ strike provided a template for future movements that seek new contracts and rules.
