British screenwriters are feeling the full impact of the country’s ongoing cost of living crisis.
A survey by the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain found that 55% of respondents said rising energy and food costs had affected their ability to sustain a writing career this year.
According to official government statistics, the cost of housing in the UK has risen by 9% this year, with bills, groceries and transport the biggest contributors.
The WGGB survey of more than 250 writers found that other factors affected their ability to write, such as: B. Less time to work or apply for grants, development programs or other opportunities.
Some 67% said they depended on their savings to cover their day-to-day expenses, while 37% said they depended on their partner’s income. More than 70% of respondents made £18,000 or less from their writing in the last financial year, pushing them towards the UK poverty line.
More than 80% of those surveyed are freelancers, further underscoring the precarious nature of work for union-represented screenwriters, playwrights, writers, audio dramatists and video game writers.
There were also allegations for producers and broadcasters as the inquiry found a lack of opportunities across the industry and a rise in bad practices, with wages not rising with inflation following the twin shocks of Brexit and the Covid -19 outbreak does not. Many reported late payments and shrinking production budgets.
Ellie Peers, Secretary General of the WGGB, said: “After experiencing the double impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, writers are now facing a serious cost of living crisis, our new research shows. The UK is facing a series of losses in writing talent and it threatens to pull the rug out from under our cultural industry, which contributes more than £100 billion. [$118.7BN] of our economy and enjoys an enviable global profile.
“We will work with our industry partners to address the impact of the crisis on writers’ living costs, we will continue to campaign and lobby and defend our members against bad practice wherever we find them. “
Author: Jesse Whittock
Source: Deadline
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
