Hollywood writers are currently on strike due to the disparities between broadcast TV and streaming platforms. Rafael Agustin, a striking writer, explains in his article for Mother Jones that this labor dispute carries a much broader significance beyond the entertainment industry. He argues that tech companies are undermining the power of labor in every sector they enter, and Hollywood writers are determined to take a stand against it.
One of the key demands of the striking writers is a ban on using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate scripts. Agustin emphasizes that allowing AI to replace human creativity would essentially be “plagiarism on steroids.” He highlights the importance of this fight against AI and the tech industry’s ongoing efforts to turn various sectors into gig economies. Agustin adds that other unions, including those representing laborers and tradespeople involved in TV and film production, fully support the writers’ cause.
Apart from the AI issue, writers are also protesting against the ways in which streaming services are disregarding established rules and eroding the gains writers achieved decades ago. Agustin reveals that writers’ rooms have diminished, and the residual income they depend on has been significantly impacted. While writers working on broadcast shows used to earn around $20,000 per residual check, those writing for streamers now receive a mere $150 per residual check. Additionally, the business model for streaming relies on subscriber sign-ups, leading them to cancel successful shows as soon as they believe they’ve exhausted their potential for attracting new subscribers.
Despite facing insults from a minority, Agustin notes that the striking writers receive overwhelming support from honks of solidarity. It is worth mentioning that the honks predominantly come from fellow union workers, such as bus drivers, electrical truck drivers, waste workers, and big rig operators in the City of Angels. To read the complete article, click here (Read more Hollywood writers’ strike stories).
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