As of midnight today, the Writers Guild of America has voted to go on strike. WGA members demands range many issues, but primarily focus on pay and residulas. The median pay for a film and TV writer has declined 4% over the last few years in the midst of rising inflation. Writers are also working fewer hours on each production. The WGA hopes to turn these trends around. Of primary concern is the payment of residuals in a streaming world; the last major negotiations took place before streaming became the way most people watch television. The Guild also seeks limits on the use of AI in generating writing material, something that comes with a number of legal hurdles we’ve discussed on this blog, but will becoming an increasing concern in the coming years.
The last time the WGA went on strike in 2007 it changed the industry. It remains to be seen what changes arise from this new strike. If you are a writer with legal concerns, contact the Law Firm of Dillon McCarthy.