The dispute between the actors and scriptwriters of hollywood -currently on strike- and the big studios is a “lost fight” that could cause damage of US$ 4,000 million in the US economy, according to experts consulted by EFE.
“Assuming that the actors’ strike lasts from 30 to 60 days, adding that of the writers, it is estimated that there will be losses of US$ 4,000 million nationwide.”, said in an interview with EFE the head of global strategy of the Milken Institute of California, Kevin Klowden.
The negative impact that the cessation of activities is already having today makes the analyst consider that the conflict is a confrontation that “nobody is going to win”, even if both parties find a solution.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) launched a historic work stoppage last Thursday – the first to take place at the same time as the Screenwriters Guild (WGA) walkouts in 63 years – after they failed to reach an agreement to sign a new collective agreement with the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP).
This has paralyzed the production, filming and promotion of audiovisual projects, affecting not only people in the entertainment industry, such as movie theaters and foreign television channels, but all support sectors, as well as catering companies. , construction, clothing rental, cleaning, logistics, transportation, etc.
The actors demand regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), higher remuneration in the compensation that artists receive each time a streaming service sells the rights of a production to a new market, as well as increases in minimum wages, among other demands.
While the AMPTP counters the petitions alleging that the industry has not yet fully recovered from the pandemic and that the instability of the economic model of streaming platforms, based on subscriptions, remain unstable and unprofitable.
“Both sides recognize that the industry has changed thanks to ‘streaming’ and practically all are discussing how they are going to divide the money that is generated from the platforms.”, commented to EFE Robert Thompson, professor at the University of Syracuse (United States) and founder of the Bleier Center for Television.
duration and future
Doing an analysis of the duration that other Hollywood strikes have had in the past, Mark Young, an entertainment specialist and professor at the Marshall School of Business (University of Southern California), considered it “very difficult” to try to predict how long it will last. this situation, but anticipates that it could be several months.
Thompson is also unable to estimate an exact date for the end of the strike, believing that the issues that need to be addressed in the negotiations are “much more complicated” than in previous strikes.
“There are no signs that the strike will end anytime soon. To tell the truth, I don’t think it will be resolved in September. There doesn’t seem to be any movement in that direction.Thompson explained.
Klowden is a little more optimistic in this regard and sees the possibility that the stoppage will end at the end of August to avoid more severe effects on the shooting and production schedules of more titles.
“I think there will be a push from everyone to at least come close to some kind of agreement, even if it is in the short term.Klowden noted.
The expert even valued that the unblocking of the AMPTP negotiations with the SAG-AFTRA would make the WGA also reach an agreement in its agreement.
Discontent of workers in the US
The Hollywood strikes are not the only ones active in the United States today.
Recently hotel workers, represented by the union Unite here! Local 11 in Southern California and Arizona held a 5-day work stoppage as thousands of Teamsters union workers at the largest US package carrier UPS are threatening to go on strike on August 1.
The four unions have common demands that include salary increases and improvements in working conditions.
“We can see that companies see labor as a cost risk. And that with technology they only seek to boost efficiency in all sectors, but everything has a limitKlowden outlined.
The expert added that this is not a workers’ fight -especially those of Hollywood- against the new technologies, but rather that they intend to establish rules that protect the integrity of their employees through their regulation and the establishment of norms that describe what can or cannot be done with them.
Source: EFE
Source: Gestion
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