Last summer, Upstate New York experienced a captivating cinematic transformation. With faux cobblestone streets and a touch of magic, Albany, Troy, and Cohoes were transported to “The Gilded Age,” while Natasha Lyonne solved crimes in America from the serene comfort of the Hudson Valley for “Poker Face.”
However, this summer presents a more tranquil atmosphere as the region’s thriving film industry faces one major trade union strike, with another potentially on the horizon.
On May 2, the Writers Guild of America, representing 11,500 screenwriters and television writers, went on strike due to an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. This association represents hundreds of television and film studios in collective bargaining negotiations with industry unions, including the Writers Guild. It’s worth noting that the guild’s previous strike lasted for a grueling 100 days.
The guild’s contract demands align with the impact of streaming on the industry, encompassing various aspects such as the accelerated production pace, writer compensation, staffing minimums for writers’ rooms, increased residuals for streaming, guaranteed minimum employment duration, pension and health benefits, minimum pay for post-production work, and restrictions on artificial intelligence that safeguard writers’ works from training artificial intelligence.
Micah Khan, a director, writer, and co-founder of the 518 Film Network, highlights the struggles faced by writers due to the changing landscape of the industry. He shares how writers who used to earn $10,000 per year from residuals for their shows now make a mere 14 cents, emphasizing the need for writers to fight for their livelihoods and financial stability.
Interestingly, the writers’ strike coincided with lawmakers passing the state budget, which included a $700 million film tax credit. This tax credit aims to enhance the state’s competitiveness in the film industry, particularly against states like Georgia and New Jersey. Qualifying productions can receive a tax credit of 30 percent of production expenses, with the potential for an additional 10 percent credit on qualified labor expenses in certain counties, including the Capital Region and Hudson Valley.
Debby Goedeke, the film commissioner for Albany County, emphasizes the positive impact of filming on local economies. According to the Association of Film Commissioners International, a production’s presence in a city can generate anywhere between $125,000 to $165,000 per day. She mentions the significant number of hotel rooms booked during the previous summer, supporting local businesses and vendors through the influx of cast and crew members.
Despite a few television and commercial projects continuing to film in Albany, there is a noticeable slowdown in the industry. Studios are not scheduling major projects like “White House Plumbers” or “The Gilded Age” in the region, leading to speculation that the writers’ strike may be a contributing factor.
Michelle Polacinski and Micah Khan established the 518 Film Network as a means to unite local film artists and facilitate work opportunities in the region. While commercial, independent, and industrial projects are still ongoing, the absence of a large-scale production like “The Gilded Age” has resulted in fewer available jobs.
Some union productions are progressing with scripts written before the strike, which were prepared in anticipation of potential labor disputes. However, writers who handle tasks such as last-minute line revisions and cuts won’t be able to work during the strike. The picketing efforts of writers on sets like Max’s “Pretty Little Liars: Summer School” have temporarily halted the filming process.
Laurent Retjo, president of the Hudson Valley Film Commission, acknowledges that picketing can lead to production shutdowns. Furthermore, he reveals that several ongoing productions are rushing to complete filming before June 30, the potential start date of a Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike if a contract agreement is not reached. In the event of a strike, any union production unaffected by the writers’ strike would also cease operations.
While current productions in Albany County may not be impacted, future projects scheduled for later in the summer and early fall could face difficulties. This includes a project in the preliminary planning phase. Similarly, ongoing productions in the Hudson Valley would come to a standstill unless they wrap up before June 30. These circumstances would leave numerous crew members, extras, and vendors unemployed.
The advent of streaming has brought about significant changes in the industry. The Writers Guild strike, along with the potential SAG-AFTRA strike and recent contract negotiations by the Directors Guild of America, represents a collective response from the community against what they perceive as a focus on profits by studios.
It is hoped that the writers achieve the deal they are striving for, as their fight for their livelihoods ultimately impacts all professionals in the industry. These battles pave the way for future generations to survive and thrive in the dynamic world of filmmaking.
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