A Love Letter to the Writers Strike

Issue #171 | Sept. 26, 2023

After a weekend of deliberations, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced on Sunday night that they have come to a tentative agreement for 3-year-contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) — one they assure writers is “exceptional” and guarantees substantial “gains and protections.” Some of the major concerns of the writers that have been addressed include fair pay, sustainable staffing structures, streaming residuals, and the future of AI in the writers’ room. While we don’t yet know the details of the deal, it seems the AMPTP is finally ready to play ball.

It’s hard to believe the Writers Strike began all the way back in May. It’s been five months. Five months!

Five months of seeing our favorite celebrities chanting, marching, and supporting each other on the picket line. Five months of content creators trying to figure out how the hell they fit into the messy entertainment landscape while sending their love for their favorite movie-magic-makers all along the way. Five months of watching more and more people tap into what makes them furious, what hurts, and what it means to labor in a system with massive wealth and power inequalities.

It’s a bittersweet situation. Writers have taken the boot on their necks and shoved it up the ass of the media titans who said they wanted workers to starve, become homeless, and die rather than just agree to pay them more. As a former film and TV worker who spent way too many days working overtime for scraps, I feel truly proud of everyone involved.

THE COMMENTS SECTION

“We did it. We have a tentative deal. Over the coming days, we’ll discuss and vote on it, together, as a democratic union. But today, I want to thank every single WGA member, and every fellow worker who stood with us in solidarity. You made this possible. Thank you.”
—Writer and WGA board member Adam Conover.

That said, details of the agreement have not yet been released. Over the past couple of days, the specific language of the deal has been hashed out by both parties. As soon as the language is solidified, it will be sent to the WGA board for approval, and then finally to the members of the WGA for a vote.

So, of course, it’s not time to bust out the confetti just yet. SAG-AFTRA is still on strike — and while picketing is on hold for the WGA for now, its members were encouraged to continue supporting the picketing actors and influencers of SAG-AFTRA who have yet to get to the bargaining table with the AMPTP. Most film and TV productions will be unable to resume working without actors, so the industry will continue to feel the hurt of media companies icing actors out. (Although, the late-night and daytime talk show scene could be back in show biz soon enough!)

For anyone working in the industry, it’s about damn time. The financial strain on film, television, and all kinds of adjacent workers has been unimaginable, with many people struggling to retain healthcare and figure out new ways to put food on the table. It’s ridiculous it took this long, yet the fact that the AMPTP is folding shows that their vague threats to “starve out” workers through the summer did not work. Instead, those threats just galvanized people further. Remember when celebrities auctioned off interactions like offering to walk a person’s dog to gather emergency funds for those out of work?

And while there’s still work to be done, it’s a moment to pause and reach out to thank your fellow creatives for helping ensure a better future for us all. That’s how show biz should be, baby!

– Grace Stanley, Newsletter and Features Editor

ON THE GROUND

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IN THE BIZ

VidCon announced its opening remarks will be from Christian Tom, the Director of the White House Office of Digital Strategy under Joe Biden. It’s an interesting move, as Biden bounces back and forth between wooing TikTok creators and considering a federal ban of the platform.
Today, President Joe Biden also notably becomes the first sitting U.S. President to join a picket line, as he makes an appearance to show solidarity with the United Auto Workers union that is protesting working conditions with America’s three biggest carmakers.
Reddit announced it will now reward users with real money for their fake gold and karma virtual currency on the platform. Now, users and creators can cash out once a month to earn for their contributions on the platform.
The Reddit news comes at an interesting time, as creators and users are still angry about the controversial API changes implemented on the platform, which make it difficult for developers to improve the Reddit ecosystem.
More FTC crackdowns on so-called “wellness” creators might be incoming, as the raw-meat-eating influencer “Liver King” and other influencers posing as health experts face lawsuits over the products they sell fans

WATCH OUT

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WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO 🎤

On the “A Bit Fruity” podcast, creators Contrapoints and Matt Bernstein try their best to understand LGBTQ conservatives.
Pop star Olivia Rodrigo appeared on Recess Therapy (the channel behind Corn Kid), resulting in this adorable interaction.
Problematic-creator-turned-podcaster Tana Mongeau’s response to Jojo Siwa defending Colleen Ballinger. (You know it’s bad when Tana has to denounce you).
Joining the “Reactorverse” podcast from Scotland, YouTuber Otaku Mai discussed her passion for anime reactions, how she built a loyal audience, and what it takes to elevate a hobby into a successful channel.