Guide to the Writers Strike

This pivotal moment is all about championing fair pay and better working conditions for the people who dream up our favorite movies and shows. Use this guide to better understand the who's involved and what's at stake.

Key Players

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Key Issues

Streaming Media Residuals

In the world of writing, income comes from two sources: an initial payment for their work, and residuals - small profit shares from the sale or airing of their creations. But with the rise of ad-free, on-demand streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, these residuals are drying up. This change hits hard for writers, who often rely on these funds during their off-months between projects.

Check out Vox's great video on this.

Artificial Intelligence

AI advancements are shaking up global job markets, particularly in content creation. As studios aim to boost profits, writers are on guard against potential misuse of these technologies. Imagine a studio taking a human-written screenplay, running it through an AI for a rewrite, and then claiming no residuals are due because the 'original' text no longer exists. It's a brave new world, and writers are fighting to ensure their rights aren't left in the dust.

Here's a great breakdown from CNBC.

Timeline

November 7, 2022

February 28, 2023

April 18, 2023

May 1, 2023

May 2, 2023

May 10, 2023

June 3, 2023

June 9, 2023

July 11, 2023

July 13, 2023

July 27, 2023

Autust 1, 2023

August 4, 2023

September 9, 2023

September 17, 2023

September 24, 2023

September 27, 2023