Editor’s Note: Whether on screen or off, Hollywood can always be counted on to keep us entertained. This is especially true when it comes to politics. Liberty Nation's HollyWeird column shines the spotlight on Tinseltown’s A-listers and their wild and wacky takes on today’s events.
First, it was the writers who decided to go on strike back in May, causing havoc and putting television shows and movies on hold. Now that the June 30 deadline to reach a compromise has passed and extended to mid-July, actors are also talking about joining in the protest. Throw the directors into the mix, and you have a trifecta of guilds demanding better conditions and more money. But that’s not all, hotel workers are peeved and are striking as well. What or who is to blame, and how much more can Hollywood take?
Who Has Joined the Writers Strike and the Hollywood Breakdown?
Writers Guild of America (WGA)
It seems all of Hollywood’s workers are in an uproar, wanting bigger dollars and improved working conditions. Since May 2, writers have been on strike, with more than 11,000 professionals walking out. They are asking for a higher share in streaming residuals since many movies spend less time in theaters and go to streaming services such as Disney+ and HBO Max, or Max as it’s now called.
Actors Guild of America (AGA)
Actors have been enlisted in the foray, at first joining the creative picketers, but now threatening to go on strike, too. More than 1,000 celebrities have signed a letter claiming they are ready to strike if an agreement isn’t met soon, including such big names as Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence. Nanny star Fran Drescher, the president of the Screen Actors Guild, and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told union members in a message after negotiations were extended, “No one should mistake this extension for weakness.”
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Like the writers, actors want higher pay to combat the higher costs of inflation and an increased share of money from streaming services.
Directors Guild of America (DGA)
Not to be outmaneuvered by writers and actors, the directors also want their fair cut and are the first of the guilds to reach a tentative agreement. “We have concluded a truly historic deal,” Jon Avnet, chair of the guild’s 80-member Negotiations Committee, said in a statement on the DGA’s website.
If the agreement is ratified by the national board, the directors will receive higher pay for certain works, more time off, further diversity and inclusiveness (such as adding Juneteenth as a holiday), and more safety precautions (including the ban of live ammunition on set).
What Do WGA, AGA, and DGA Have in Common?
Besides seeking more money, of course, the three guilds also are adamant about restricting the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The potential DGA agreement states that “AI is not a person and … generative AI cannot replace the duties performed by members.”
To some, AI is a valid and serious threat to the entertainment industry. It’s already been used in almost every part of moviemaking, such as de-aging actors and even resurrecting the voices of actors who have passed. Even many people outside Tinseltown think artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT is very worrisome. The World Economic Forum released a report in May that predicted nearly a quarter of jobs will, in one way or another, be disrupted by AI interference over the next five years.
Red Carpet Hotels May Not Be Available
It’s not just the guilds threatening to walk out. Los Angeles’ housekeepers, cooks, and dishwashers are going on strike as well, which will seriously impact the availability and services of some of the area’s top hotels.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Dubbed by The Hollywood Reporter as “the largest such labor action in the hotel industry in modern U.S. history,” the union includes about 15,000 members at more than 60 properties in LA and Orange counties. Some of the hotels affected are the Chateau Marmont, the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, and the Beverly Hilton. “Our members were devastated first by the pandemic, and now by the greed of their bosses,” Local 11 co-president Kurt Petersen said in a statement issued when the strike was called, according to the entertainment outlet. “The industry got bailouts while we got cuts. Now, the hotel negotiators decided to take a four-day holiday instead of negotiating. Shameful,” added Petersen.
But this strike doesn’t impact just those who want to stay at luxurious locations. Picketers started their protest on July 2, right before the Fourth of July holiday. The JW Marriott, the InterContinental, and the Biltmore also house guests visiting the ongoing Anime Expo, which drew more than 100,000 attendees in 2022. Some of the posh hotels are sites for talent scout meetings and even scenes in TV shows and movies.
Employees are demanding “an immediate $5 hourly wage boost, with $3 bumps to follow annually over the course of its three-year contract, totaling $11.” Currently, housekeepers earn $20 per hour and dishwashers and cooks earn $22, The Hollywood Reporter explained.
Tune in next time to see what else Tinseltown has planned.
