Title: Film Industry Braces for International Impact as Actors and Writers Stage Walkout
Subtitle: The Strike Threatens the Release of Highly-Anticipated Films and Disrupts Production Worldwide
Date: Sun 16 Jul 2023 11.00 BST
In what is being dubbed as one of the biggest strikes in over 60 years, the walkout by American screen actors and writers is set to have far-reaching consequences not only for the US film industry but also for productions in the UK and Europe. As negotiations between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the unions came to a halt, frustrated fans of film and TV drama from around the globe expressed their disappointment.
While the writers’ strike earlier this year elicited a relatively muted response, the current strike by actors has garnered widespread attention. Notable celebrities such as George Clooney, Margot Robbie, and Brian Cox have thrown their support behind the campaign, decrying the declining pay and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in production by streaming services. Clooney referred to the current situation as an “inflection point in our industry.”
The strike has already caused several high-profile projects to be put on hold indefinitely. TV series like The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and Emily in Paris will not return for new seasons as expected, and the premiere of the film adaptation of the musical Wicked starring Ariana Grande has been postponed. Even the shooting of Gladiator 2 in Morocco faces an indefinite pause.
The strike has also disrupted international events, with the stars of Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer walking out of its London premiere. The Venice festival and San Diego’s Comic-Con are now in jeopardy, while the Toronto International Film Festival organizers hope to resume with an open dialogue.
The Walkout began on Friday when over 160,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined the 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America in ceasing work. The primary issues revolving around residuals payments for streaming services have caused tensions to rise. Streaming platforms like Netflix, which have large audiences but pay considerably less in residuals compared to broadcast television, have come under fire.
Actors Fran Drescher and Brian Cox voiced their concerns over the impact of declining residuals on health insurance and the lack of originality that would result from using AI programming to replicate talent. On the other side, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger lamented the strike, calling it “very disruptive” and adding to the challenges the industry already faces.
As production grinds to a halt, countries with booming film economies like Britain, Ireland, Greece, and Canada are preparing for an unprecedented slowdown. The Canadian film industry, which relies heavily on American writers and actors, is already feeling the effects of the strike. Unions representing various sectors of the industry are warning of the impending damage, anticipating a surge in hiatuses and freelancer unemployment if mediation fails.
The strike is set to cause a shortage of scripted entertainment in the coming months, with numerous projects, including the highly-anticipated Wicked, Beetlejuice, and Deadpool 3, being significantly affected. British location manager Ben Sanderson highlighted the plight of freelance film production professionals who will suffer financial consequences due to the strike.
While audiences may be disappointed by the lack of new content, the strike’s real impact will be felt by the thousands of individuals who depend on the film industry for their livelihoods. With over 100,000 people employed directly and indirectly by the film production sector in Britain alone, the strike has caused real pain and financial uncertainty for many in the industry.
As negotiations between the unions and the producers continue, industry insiders and fans alike await the resolution of this high-stakes battle, which could have long-lasting implications for the future of the film industry.