Hollywood would avoid a directors’ strike through a scandalous deal

The Hollywood audiovisual industry is in the midst of a pivotal week that could rock the world of cinema. THE strike called by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) May 2 is still ongoing and shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

With Shooting of films and series suspended around the world, the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP) has faced three fronts simultaneously in recent months. The agreements with screenwriters, directors and actors expired this year, which made the negotiation coincide with the respective unions.

On June 3, the Directors Guild of America tentatively reached an agreement in principle that largely addressed the union’s core wage and union claims. However, only in the last two days has the official vote taken place culminating with the ratification of the agreement entered into with the Alliance of Producers (AMPTP), which represents major Hollywood studios.

As reported Expiration, the new employment contract provides for salary improvements, a more equitable distribution of the residual rights of online streaming services and the guarantee that artificial intelligence will be used as a tool to improve the art rather than as an excuse to cut costs and dispense with professionals.

The specialized media also points out that, according to the vote carried out by the DGA (Directors Guild of America), “approximately 87% of those registered with the right to vote supported the proposal”.

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The strikes in Hollywood would continue if there were no deals for everyone

The deal with the directors has been finalized as the writers’ strike continues to hit the Hollywood industry hard. Historically, major studios have tended to strike deals quickly with directors and actors as a strategy to undermine writers’ claims. However, until now, the WC extension (Writers Guild of America) he remains stuck in a series of labor lawsuits which, ironically, are similar to those raised by the directors.

These demands include ensuring they receive fair compensation for a project’s success on streaming platforms and concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in their work. Unfortunately, no suitable offer has been made to the writers so far, which has prolonged the conflict indefinitely.

Furthermore, there is a possibility that the actors’ union will also strike, since the AMPTP has so far failed to reach an agreement with said union.

Although this is not the first massive writers’ strike, as job demands in this sector are historic, we are faced with an unprecedented situation in hollywood in terms of the support the strike is receiving, both inside and outside the United States.

In a unique context where the demand for online streaming content is very high, studios are forced to maintain a constant flow of productions. Shutting down industry operations for an indefinite period of time represents a huge monetary loss to the studios, who remain adamant in their position of not giving in to the writers’ demands.

In the coming days, the actions of the actors’ union will be crucial, as they will have to decide whether to sign a new employment contract or join the strike, definitively paralyzing the production of films and series. The official spokesmen of both unions, in fact, defend the idea that a more favorable agreement for screenwriters could save large productions suspended or at risk of cancellation.

It is important to note that some of the major productions currently underway have halted their development in solidarity with the writers’ strike. To cite just a couple of examples, the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is currently on hiatus and fans will have to wait to see Jane’s (Millie Bobby Brown) adventures conclude until a deal is reached.

Several Marvel Cinematic Universe television productions, such as Daredevil: Born Again, have closed their movie sets until the writers’ strike is resolved. In the long run, it may be cheaper for studios to compensate their workers properly than to face the consequences of a prolonged closure.

The current situation presents an unprecedented challenge for Hollywood, as the writers’ strike has received tremendous support from both the film community and the general public. The demand for fair compensation and adequate working conditions by screenwriters reflects a growing awareness of the importance of their work and their contribution to the success of productions.