Daily Digest: The Writers Have Completely Shut Down TV Production in L.A.
➕ hazardous air quality levels put the kibosh on New York City picket lines
After a month of chanting “Shut it down,” the writers have fulfilled their own ambition: Last week there was but one scripted TV series in Los Angeles with an active permit (and a parking permit, at that). This week there are none.
“In a normal week at this time of year, there would be dozens of scripted television projects in production,” said FilmLA spokesperson Philip Sokoloski in a research note shared with press. “By contrast, we have NO scripted TV series with permits to film this week.”
For all the questions about the effectiveness of the Writers Guild’s strike strategy — its social media messaging, quirky picket signs, themed dress-up days, etc. — the total halt on productions in L.A. seems proof enough that the writers’ aim to shut down active productions by picketing studio lots in the wee hours and late at night seems to be working.
For the week ended June 4, the number of weekly feature films and TV projects slid 54 percent to 122 from 268, a figure that includes unscripted shows and non-union indie films (which are not impacted by the current work stoppage).
The total production shutdown marks a victory for the Guild, but the financial ramifications for the crews, craft services, hair and makeup artists and other below-the-line workers are likely to be sobering, particularly if SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000 actors join the picket lines with their own demands in July.
Meanwhile, Mother Nature has shut it down in New York. Canadian wildfires have plunged air quality in the city well into hazardous territory, prompting the WGA East to cancel all pickets for the rest of the week due to health and safety concerns.
Elsewhere on The Ankler…
In the latest episode of Martini Shot, Rob Long looks at the doom-casting around A.I. driving not-so-nice discussions amongst his fellow writers:
So part of the problem with A.I. is that it’s encouraging a lot of panic and doom casting, but it’s also inspiring a lot of conversations among writers that aren’t very nice. That are more about other stuff in the writing business, like who has talent and who doesn’t. Who needs a robot and who doesn’t. Who can replace me and what can replace you.
I heard a writer friend say this, “You know when I hear writers being terrified that A.I. is going to replace them, I always wonder, God, how bad a writer are you?”
I heard a writer friend say this, “I never met an executive or a director who cared if the writing was good, they just want it mediocre, which is what A.I. will give them.”
And I heard a writer friend say this: “I’ve actually used A.I. It’s good for getting over the parts where you’re stuck.”
Listen to the full podcast at The Ankler.
Today in Strike News
Tom Cruise’s next death-defying stunt will take a lot more skill and precision than jumping off a cliff on a motorcycle, as he’ll have to put a stop to the strike before Mission: Impossible 8 can resume production. (Collider)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution in support of the WGA on Tuesday that deemed their demands reasonable and urged the AMPTP to return to the negotiating table. (Deadline)
Industry assistants and support staff impacted by the strike have a new financial aid outlet, as #PayUpHollywood, an organization that advocates pay equity for assistants, has relaunched its Hollywood Support Staff Relief Fund. (Deadline)
One person who foresaw the conflict the WGA and SAG-AFTRA face now: the late Ed Asner, who fervently advocated for equitable residuals and a thorough accounting of what new entertainment platforms like streaming meant to the business. (Los Angeles Times)
Picket Sign of the Day
Spotted outside Amazon Studios in Culver City.
Additional reporting by Matthew Frank
No they haven't. Check Raleigh studios.
AI is the best thing to happen to writers since the word processor.