I've been reading and trying to understand the problem between Hollywood screenwriters and the union. What they are demanding is a wage increase?....a greater share of industry profits?....or something else?
How much is the average wage and how much are they demanding it improve?
4 people like this
Just an FYI. The union represents the "Hollywood screenwriters". It's called, WGA - Writers Guild of America (East and West). There are a number of minor issues, but the large looming ones are the compensation for the various writer levels and the residuals that writers should make on streaming platforms. Thank you for asking.
3 people like this
Hey, Alejandro Marello. The WGA is striking about different issues (increased residuals, regulating the use of artificial intelligence on scripts, etc.). Check out these two articles:
www.today.com/news/hollywood-writers-strike-2023-explained-rcna83508
www.wgacontract2023.org/member-voices/why-we-strike
And here's the WGA's proposals (and the AMPTP's offers): www.wgacontract2023.org/uploadedfiles/members/member_info/contract-2023/...
2 people like this
Are all writers required to join the WGA if they are hired for script writing?
2 people like this
Maurice Vaughan I didn't know there was a discussion with the AI.
very interesting articles in the links. now I continue reading.
From the links you have given me, I was struck by this phrase:
"Tech companies come along with data models that they think improve the way content is distributed. Fine. But they show no understanding, respect, or appreciation for the way worlds are built in writers’ rooms. The way the television stories people love are actually told. We had a system that worked beautifully and I have personally witnessed them breaking it. It’s time to stop and say enough."
that's why many filmmakers say that the cinema of the past was better than that of today???. i thought it was out of nostalgia
4 people like this
Jenean McBrearty there are union and non-union productions, Jenean.
2 people like this
I apologize for the late reply, Alejandro Marello. Yes, there's a discussion about AI. It's one of the major concerns the WGA has.
"Tech companies come along with data models that they think improve the way content is distributed. Fine. But they show no understanding, respect, or appreciation for the way worlds are built in writers’ rooms....." The film industry is a business, yes, but it's not all about business and data models. That's something some studios and movie companies don't seem to understand.
I don't think those studios and companies see the big picture: By using AI (which writes horrible scripts) and being so focused on profit, they're not thinking about great storytelling enough, but great storytelling is one of the major factors for profit. How many times have you watched a movie that had bad or terrible storytelling and you recommended the movie to people? I'm guessing not many times. Now, if a movie had great storytelling (like movies in the past), I'm guessing you'd recommend that movie to people, which could mean they would go see that movie, which would mean more profit for studios and companies.
3 people like this
Writers don't have to join the WGA, Jenean McBrearty. Some writers are fine being non-WGA. Here's more about WGA membership: www.wgaeast.org/eligibility
2 people like this
Like Maurice said a screenwriter doesn’t have to join the WGA but if the company is WGA Signatory and or the project is a union project they have to pay the screenwriter at least the WGA minimum.