During the day, Ryan Quinlan is responsible for handling various lighting fixtures that appear in movies and TV shows. At night, he rents out unique props, like an Egyptian sarcophagus and a taxidermy leopard, from his warehouse in Brooklyn. On top of these occupations, he also acts and performs stunts. Unfortunately, all of Quinlan’s work abruptly came to a halt last week when SAG-AFTRA, the Hollywood actors’ union with 36,000 members in the New York area, announced a strike for the first time in 43 years. This strike aims to achieve better pay and safeguards against artificial intelligence. The Writers Guild of America, the screenwriters union, has also been on strike since May.
This strike has affected every stream of income for Mr. Quinlan and many others involved in the film industry. While Los Angeles is considered the hub of the film and TV industry in the United States, New York has positioned itself as Hollywood East. The standoff is already negatively impacting tens of thousands of workers in one of the city’s fastest-growing industries. It’s not just actors and writers who are out of work; makeup artists, costume designers, carpet dealers, and foam sculptors are also preparing for potential months without work, which is especially challenging given the ongoing recovery from the pandemic.
Despite the widespread impact on workers, most industry professionals support the actors’ demands, particularly their push for a fair share of streaming revenue. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, a union representing over 168,000 workers behind the scenes, announced its strong support for the actors’ and writers’ strikes. This is part of a broader national labor movement where various groups, including hotel workers, writers, and delivery workers, have been advocating for higher wages and benefits.
The strikes are expected to have a significant economic effect on New York City. In 2019 alone, film and TV productions supported over 185,000 jobs in the city, including ancillary industries such as legal services, truck rental, and food catering. Thanks to tax incentives for production companies, the industry has added 35,000 jobs from 2004 to 2019, surpassing the citywide job growth rate. The average salary in the industry in New York City in 2022 was $173,500, 49% higher than the average private workforce job.
The strikes are causing mounting anxiety as film and TV projects remain indefinitely on hold. Business owners like Jessica Heyman, who runs a specialty prop house, are concerned about the impact on their operations. Superfans of shows like “Succession” have provided some support, but it is not enough to sustain businesses. Many are considering alternative options, such as subletting warehouse space or finding consulting work.
Other businesses that have benefitted from the industry, such as flooring stores, are also feeling the pinch. Owners like Christina Constantinou, whose clientele consists mainly of set decorators in search of unique carpets, are worried about the prolonged shutdown. Unlike unionized workers, these small businesses do not have access to PPP loans and are struggling to stay afloat.
Even vintage clothing stores like Helen Uffner’s are faced with the challenging decision to close indefinitely. This unpredictable situation has forced Uffner to sell personal items from her collection and dip into her savings to cover expenses.
Additionally, the strike poses risks for workers who rely on health care plans tied to hours worked. Some workers may face the suspension of their health care benefits if a prolonged stoppage occurs. Nonprofit aid groups have stepped in to provide emergency grants to industry workers in need.
Despite the hardships and uncertainties, individuals like Ryan Quinlan remain committed to reaching a favorable contract with the studios. Many come from families with deep roots in the theatrical union, emphasizing the importance of standing together during tough times. As the strike continues, everyone in the industry is preparing for the worst and hoping that they have saved enough for this rainy day.
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