Go unions, go!

[rogueslayer452]

++ SAG-AFTRA has officially gone on strike, joining in with the WGA in the picket line, promptly halting any further production of the American entertainment industry. This will be SAG's first union strike since the 1980s (unless you count the 2016-2017 strike strictly by voice actors against video game producers), and the first dual strike with SAG and WGA since the 1960s. So yeah, this is quite historic to say the least, although it's unfortunate that it even needs to happen at all. It was preventable if the producers of the industry weren't so outrageously greedy and inhumane and their refusal to listen to the people they're attempting to screw over. I lived through the 2007-2008 WGA strike which was a huge deal at the time, and I have no doubt this will be equally as massive, if not more so especially when you take into account the deeply concerning issues and what is at stake that prompted both unions to strike. Unlike before, I do think this is going to really hit the entertainment industry hard because this is affecting everyone in the industry. Outside of shows and movies being delayed/on pause, cut short, or outright cancelled, people are going to be losing their jobs. And judging by the way the AMPTP completely disregards the livelihoods of the workers -- actors, writers, and everyone else in between -- y'all better buckle up and prepare to be in this fight for the long haul. It's most likely going to be long, and ugly.

To put it simply: support the SAG-AFTRA and WGA, and fuck the AMPTP.

++ The entertainment industry aren't the only ones striking lately, either. UPS workers are on the verge of a strike themselves, fast food workers in Los Angeles had a protest walkout recently, Los Angeles hotel workers on strike, among plenty others that I'm not mentioning. It's the summer of labor unions fighting in solidarity, and I'm here for it.

++ AO3 was hit by a DDoS attack recently, and while it seems that the site is back up they are apparently still being hit and are working tirelessly on counteracting these attacks and have given information and advice on how to navigate things on our end, including where to get updates (although I don't have Twitter so I can't access that, and the Tumblr page hasn't been updated since the 11th, so, I can only rely on what others say at this time until they make another official announcement on the site itself).

Comments

[kissapentu]

I'm totally on board with t he actors joining the writers! More power to them all. I really do hope that wages do become fair to the writers - after all they do all the work in the long run of things.

[rogueslayer452]

I know that attention to the WGA strike had been dwindling a bit since they first began in May, so having SAG join is really good. It further demonstrates that they're not playing around, that this is serious.

[goodbyebird]

It's a pity animators don't have their contract up again until next year, a triple strike would have empowered all three. I see cosplayers as well have been advised agains cosplaying characters from franchises these studios control. SDCC is going to be interesting this year...

I am very much hoping the rise of unions continue ✊

[author_by_night]

I feel for people who will be hit hard financially due to all of this, because yes, we look at all the celebrities with money picketing, but it's going to affect small-name writers and actors as well, who rely on these jobs to put money on the table. I know someone like that.

This is going to affect the industry big time. I'm not sure what will happen. I feel like the strikes in 2007 led to a lot more reality TV than anything else, as studios got desperate. It might just be me, but TBH I feel like 80% of shows were reality TV shows until maybe ten, even five years ago. So I'm concerned they'll do that, find quick and easy alternatives. They're already talking about AI. Scary stuff. But they'll also want to have their big box winners back, especially when it comes to movies.

What would help is if you could somehow separate art from industry, but that's... really difficult. Even a lot of the "indie" films aren't exactly independent in the romanticized sense, they're still made by companies with agendas, or so it seems anyway. YouTube might be the closest, and even YouTube seems to be largely "reality" based stuff, aside from satirical skits.

My hope is that they're eventually pressured, but yeah, it will take a while. They do not care about their writers and actors.

Also here for labor unions fighting. People are being paid for what they needed to live twenty years ago, not in 2023. Maybe even less than that. Workers are taken for granted in other ways.

lthough I don't have Twitter so I can't access that,

Yeah, I'm actually a little irked they only have twitter for that reason. You'd think they would update more on tumblr, considering so many AO3 users are there.

[facethestrange]

Damn, the greed is honestly baffling to me sometimes, like, how about you PAY PEOPLE ENOUGH and you wouldn't be having any of these problems at all? It's so simple, and they just don't do that, and I'm just...?

[rogueslayer452]

Seriously. These are millionaire/billionaire producers who have enough money to pay these people the fair amount they're asking for, and yet have the audacity to claim otherwise? To say that the unions are being unreasonable and blaming them for causing trouble in the industry? What the actual fuck? We know that wealthy people live in their own separate privileged world and are tone deaf to everyone else struggling around them, it's no secret, especially within the entertainment industry, but seeing it so blatant like this is really astounding.

And just everything else attached to this, particularly the issue surrounding AI and likeness and not paying actors even when their image is used without their knowledge or consent, it's so dystopian.

[rogueslayer452]

I see cosplayers as well have been advised agains cosplaying characters from franchises these studios control. SDCC is going to be interesting this year...

Huh. I haven't seen this, but I wouldn't be surprised.

But that is true about SDCC. I know that it's been weird over the last four years or so because of the pandemic, but with the dual SAG/WGA strikes it's going to be even more limiting.

[rogueslayer452]

but it's going to affect small-name writers and actors as well, who rely on these jobs to put money on the table.

Yeah, people are going to be out of work and lose their jobs in the meantime. Watching some interviews with those picketing, they say that they love what they do, but they're not rich, they barely make enough for a decent living and oftentimes have to take on a second or third job just to pay their monthly rent and put food on the table. I think people often have this skewed image of those working in the entertainment industry, that all of them are rich or have enough money, when that couldn't be further from the truth. Unless one is an A-lister, many rely on these jobs to make ends meet. And, hell, even if they are an A-lister, fame is rather fleeting and they, too, can go broke and lose everything in an instant. I think we forget that sometimes because celebrities are viewed as unattainable and untouchable because of the image they present.

So I'm concerned they'll do that, find quick and easy alternatives. They're already talking about AI. Scary stuff. But they'll also want to have their big box winners back, especially when it comes to movies.

Everything surrounding the concept of using AI for an actor's likeness is deeply disturbing, because it's so dystopian.

Already there's been media using AI to do certain things (I think Secret Invasion has AI rendered opening credits, they claim that it's intentionally done to be disturbing to the viewer to fit in with the tone of the show, but that is still using something so controversial and one of the main reasons why the strikes are happening), and aside from pushing workers out in favor of AI, there's already been issues surrounding streaming cancelling and removing shows and movies because they don't want to pay the workers residuals, so by having entirely AI created media to ensure they don't "lose money" is most likely going to be a high possibility.

My hope is that they're eventually pressured, but yeah, it will take a while. They do not care about their writers and actors.

They really don't. It's no secret that they don't, but it was made blatantly clear with the leaked statement from a producer claiming that it's a "necessary evil" for writers/actors to go hungry and lose their homes until October. Both sides are stubbornly at a stalemate, but it's obvious that the unions are in the right here. You don't abuse your workers and threaten their livelihoods by pushing them out and refusing to compensate them for their hard work that they rightfully deserve and then point a finger at them saying they're the unreasonable ones by halting productions and making everyone be out of work. Just, the absolute audacity.

On one hand, I want this to be resolved as quickly and positively as possible in favor of the unions. On the other hand, should this be prolonged, as it most likely will be, it will expose the cracks and flaws of the industry and have it crumble once they realize that they really cannot function without their writers and actors and other workers they've hired. That they are nothing without them, no matter how many non-union, scabs, and AI generated shit they put out to replace them. Even if the producers can't see that because they are so full up their own asses, then everyone else will. We all know the industry is broken, in more ways than one, and if this is just the beginning we're in for quite a long, exhausting ride of exposing more of that.

Yeah, I'm actually a little irked they only have twitter for that reason. You'd think they would update more on tumblr, considering so many AO3 users are there.

Seriously.

[rhoda_rants]

Go strikers GO! I don't think people have started to feel the full impact of these strikes yet, because a lot of stuff is planned and completed far enough in advance there's still a lot of "new" media coming out. But soon . . . soon. More importantly, the CEOs are starting to freak out, so they're starting to notice. It's so obvious from the way they've been reacting that they've never had to survive paycheck to paycheck and have no idea that, actually, the people who make their cushy jobs possible can live without them.

I'm sitting on new chapters for two existing stories, and a whole one shot, that I'm afraid to post right now because of the DDoS thing. I know they've said it's safe to use now, crisis averted and all, but. I'm hesitant.

[author_by_night]

Yeah, I know a film writer who has recently taken on other work because it wasn't enough to support him and his wife. It's still not really "enough" because it's very part-time, but it's better than nothing, especially right now.

ble. I think people often have this skewed image of those working in the entertainment industry, that all of them are rich or have enough money, when that couldn't be further from the truth. Unless one is an A-lister, many rely on these jobs to make ends meet. And, hell, even if they are an A-lister, fame is rather fleeting and they, too, can go broke and lose everything in an instant. I think we forget that sometimes because celebrities are viewed as unattainable and untouchable because of the image they present.

Yeah, exactly. Also, our idea of who is an A-lister can be skewed based on what we watch. Someone famous in nerd/geek circles, for instance, would be pretty unknown to a lot of other people. Or soap stars. I couldn't tell you one soap star, because I don't watch soaps. (Or reality TV. To be honest with you, if Kim Kardashian walked past me on the street, I'd have no idea why everyone was gasping and grabbing their phones.)

ETA: Okay, that's a jump, I do know what she looks like. No idea what Khloe looks like, though.

If you actually think about the number of movies and TV shows we watch, there are millions of actors in them. Only a few of them have two houses in Malibu, you know?

And you're right that it's fleeting. There have been actors of hit TV shows who later became homeless. Not quite what we're talking about here, just saying.

Anyway, I would say a lot of actors, including ones we think are super famous, probably make an average or even below average income. They're not living in mansions.


They really don't. It's no secret that they don't, but it was made blatantly clear with the leaked statement from a producer claiming that it's a "necessary evil" for writers/actors to go hungry and lose their homes until October.

... wow. You're right, the sheer audacity of it.

That they are nothing without them, no matter how many non-union, scabs, and AI generated shit they put out to replace them. Even if the producers can't see that because they are so full up their own asses, then everyone else will


I think you're right. We've already all known (there are ironically films and TV show episodes that even spell out how corrupt the industry is), but now it's really out there.

[elizalavelle]

I'm so glad they're striking. AI is such a danger to all of our jobs and in the western world we look to actors a lot so ideally more people will start to understand that AI is a really big issue and that we all risk being unemployed in countries where there isn't a strong universal basic income. It's going to be a rough future.

I'm so glad we're seeing more strikes. Unions striking helps everyone as if they get a better deal it does help force other industries to offer more or risk more of their workers trying to get into the unionized jobs.

[pianogurl330]

I'm glad & support that they're striking and all what they're striking for! The heads of the TV/Film industries are so out of touch!

[rogueslayer452]

Out of touch, greedy bastards. Not that that's anything new, of course, but just seeing the way everything has been going down has really been astounding to witness.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, like, it really feels very dystopian. So many people are going to be negatively affected by this, their livelihoods threatened because corporations and businesses want to push them out.

[elizalavelle]

I hope more people wake up to that. The very wealthy would like to pay no one. You're right that it has a dystopian feel to it. Between AI, and the climate, and the current pandemic and the other possible ones coming... it's looking really bleak. I hope at least we can hold some ground against AI.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, we're not seeing the dramatic effect it'll be having on media....yet. Once the scheduled stuff comes out and there's nothing left because productions have halted, people are going to become more and more aware the longer the strike continues, especially since it risks a lot of things, not just planned movies and shows that have yet to be in production or have paused mid-production, but also things that were renewed and might be outright cancelled. Sure, studios and services will try to do things themselves, they'll try to push for AI-generated content and try to hire non-union actors/scabs, but it'll be not good. People will be able to see right through that facade.

[rhoda_rants]

Ugh. I keep seeing various library talks trying to get us excited about AI. And, no. Absolutely not interested. I feel this is gonna be like crypto all over again, but worse.

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[sunshine304]

I was so happy when the actors announced their strike. I don’t care if tv shows or movies get delayed because all of this as I think the unions’ demands are completely reasonable and the studios are just greedy assholes. *g* They’re already like, “Ohhh but four Marvel movies are already getting delayed and the new season of Andor was so close to being finished!” And? Pay your writers and actors, and you wouldn’t have this problem. Those Marvel movies might actually need a delay, as we’re all quite tired of so many coming out in quick succession.

(Also, if it’s Blade I just have to laugh because that thing is never getting made. XD)

I think that asshole statement about waiting the strikers out until they’re homeless actually fired up the unions even more.

[rogueslayer452]

Those Marvel movies might actually need a delay, as we’re all quite tired of so many coming out in quick succession.

Seriously. I don't really watch or pay that much attention to the MCU, but it really has overtaken the industry that even hardcore fans who have stuck with the franchise are getting burnt out from it. Same with Star Wars.

Also, if it’s Blade I just have to laugh because that thing is never getting made. XD

The fact that they're even attempting to reboot Blade in the first place is outrageous to me. Of course there's been tons of issues with the production of that already that I don't think it'll even happen, and the double union strike happening is definitely going to hit them hard with that where I wouldn't be surprised if it gets shelved indefinitely.

I think that asshole statement about waiting the strikers out until they’re homeless actually fired up the unions even more.

Oh, absolutely. They really thought that such a statement would put fear into them, but in reality it just made them angrier and more determined to continue striking harder than they already were. It even added more outside support to the unions, as well, because that statement really pushed that button of underpaid and underappreciated workers in every area possible being mistreated and viewed as expendable by corporations.

[sunshine304]

Same with Star Wars.
Absolutely! I recently saw a post on tumblr where a SW fan explained how tired they’re all are because in the past, you had a SW movie come out once in a while with huge gaps in between. Perhaps a tv show at one point or a shitty Christmas special… And suddenly, there’s a new movie practically every year and several new shows (animated and live action) and so many more announced etc. It’s super overwhelming and fans get stressed out because they don’t have the time to properly digest and appreciate it all!


the double union strike happening is definitely going to hit them hard with that where I wouldn't be surprised if it gets shelved indefinitely.
I like the casting of Mahershala Ali, I think he’d be great, but yeah, with all the delays that have already happened and now this… who knows if he’s even willing to do it then. Also, if it’s a multi-film deal, it’s a commitment for, what a decade? It’s really questionable if all of these movies will get made after all, especially considering that the box office hasn’t been great recently either (except for Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy).

It even added more outside support to the unions, as well, because that statement really pushed that button of underpaid and underappreciated workers in every area possible being mistreated and viewed as expendable by corporations.
100% this!

Also, I see these posts being like, “Ohhh noooo you’re favourite tv show will be delayed! Whatever will you dooo?” And like… watch any of the thousands of other shows and movies on streaming? Get out my DVDs that I haven’t watched yet? Read a book? Go outside and touch some grass?

Fans have been burned so much with cancelled TV shows recently, many aren’t even that invested anymore and it’s the studios’ own fault.
And also, I was in Sherlock fandom. We waited several years between seasons, only to be hit over the head with the last season being full of bad writing. XD Fans will manage.