And so it continues on.

[rogueslayer452]

The recent scheduled meeting with the WGA and AMPTP turned out to be a failure, as the WGA reports (and gave furthering updates on what occurred), since it wasn't a negotiation it was, and I quote from the above WGA statement directly: " [...] this wasn’t a meeting to make a deal. This was a meeting to get us to cave [...] This was the companies’ plan from the beginning – not to bargain, but to jam us. It is their only strategy – to bet that we will turn on each other."

And so, the strike continues on, as members of the WGA and SAG say that they are digging their heels in harder.

In general, I think this strike has brought a lot of awareness as to how workers in Hollywood/the entertainment industry are often mistreated, including actors. Most people tend to have this common misconception that actors are immediately rich, that because they appear on our screens and getting gig after gig they are paid handsomely and therefore this doesn't affect them. (Or, y'know, most likely don't care at all, just watch them on screen and that's it.) But it does. So many actors have come forward addressing the issues that they face, including how a lot of them have had to get a second and third job just to pay monthly rent because they aren't paid enough (and what they are paid they have to divide with those around them, like their managers and whatnot). Unlike big name A-listers, most actors live in squalor* for a lot of their careers. Unless you are someone who does work in the industry, aspiring actor or otherwise, a lot of what happens behind closed doors isn't well-known, and as unfortunate as what caused this strike to occur in the first place it has created this sense of disillusionment as more information comes out of how writers and actors are being treated, the conditions they work under, and why this strike is important to not just them but to every single worker in the industry.

(* It reminds me of the harsh truth of MTV's Cribs where most of those homes featured of music artists and celebrities weren't real, fabricated by producers, making it appear that the artists lived a more glamorous life than they actually did in order to sell that image to the audience.)

Comments

[cinderlite]

Damn, but that's nasty of the companies. I watched a video recently that said that the actors/writers were going to win because of the public. What the companies didn't account for is how much more publicized the strike is now instead of being controlled in a way that that benefits the companies/the narratives they're trying to portray. Frankly, I agree.

[elizalavelle]

I really hope that the companies cave soon and at least come to negotiate in good faith. This idea that they can just wait everyone out and try to literally starve them to get to mistreat them further when they come back to work is so disgusting. I love television and I'd rather have no new shows ever again than for the writers to have to have their work sold out to AI. It's clear that the studios have a goal of pushing most creative people out of the industry and just generating work rather than have it created. That's going to be such a downfall and I hope we can avoid it.

When my brother's girlfriend (later wife) was going through her phase of wanting to act she really saw it as a glamourous thing and I think wanted to be famous more than she wanted to actually create any kind of art with her acting. This made her really unrealistic about what it was going to take to break into the industry and the actual hard work that acting was. She did a lot of extra work and still managed to be able to ignore the reality of the business.

[rogueslayer452]

It's clear that the studios have a goal of pushing most creative people out of the industry and just generating work rather than have it created. That's going to be such a downfall and I hope we can avoid it.

Yeah, and it's mainly so they don't have to pay those who create, despite having more than enough money to do so. But relying entirely on generated material to avoid paying residuals isn't going to work. I don't know what is going to happen, but there needs to be a drastic change within the industry because what's been happening for some time now isn't working, and workers have had enough. If only the higher ups could get the collective sticks out of their arrogant asses to see that they're only hurting themselves by refusing to pay their workers and treat them fairly and respectfully.

she really saw it as a glamourous thing and I think wanted to be famous more than she wanted to actually create any kind of art with her acting.

Sadly, the Hollywood dream of becoming a star is a myth that many still believe in. If you're serious about acting and getting a career in the entertainment industry, you have to accept the hardships that come with it. That means acknowledging the harsh reality that most of the time it comes down to sheer luck, and most people who go into Hollywood looking to become famous just for the sake of being famous aren't going to last long.

(I feel like this is why many turn to social media to become "famous" because it doesn't require actual talent, just a conventionally pretty face doing mediocre things copied from others that will get you millions of views and followers, but even that comes with a price and isn't always as glamorous as they portray, either. It's all smoke and mirrors from all sides, basically.)

[rogueslayer452]

I really want to believe that they can win this, because I do agree that there's a lot more attention drawn to it thanks to social media. And while there are certain publications that will attempt to give misinformation, a lot of these writers and actors have social media that they regularly use from the picket lines and giving their thoughts, sharing their stories, and addressing certain things directly from their own mouths. People can see how angry they are, can see that determination and understand their side rather than there being some kind of barrier between news outlets.

And although I have seen some comments online from those who think the actors/writers are just whining and that they're at fault for halting things and that they should just "suck it up", those are just a loud minority, as I think the majority of people who are paying close enough attention are more aware of what is at stake and what they're rightfully fighting for.

I don't know what's going to happen, but this is definitely going to be a long fight and I hope that the WGA/SAG continue to stand their ground. It's not a strike that anyone wants, but it is necessary.

[elizalavelle]

I wonder if maybe the creative people would think about starting their own studios like they had done in the past. I genuinely think the major studios right now will do anything to switch to AI content so no matter the deal they're going to be crooked about it. Perhaps it's time to just walk away.

Agreed about being famous. I suspect that if you're going to be happy at all as an actor you have to want to make art and create characters etc. Fame is nice in that it brings financial security but if that's the goal there's a lot of unhappiness to fall into.

Also agree re: social media influencer culture. I do see people who think it's easy and really to me it seems like an enormous amount of work. You pretty much have to constantly be making content and be lucky and since so many are doing it you need to constantly have something new to draw people in. Kudos to those who manage it (at least kudos to the ones who manage it without exploiting their children as I see that a lot) it definitely is a lot more work than most people seem to be aware of.

Like tons of kids in school say they want to be an influencer when they grow up because they see it as being a fun job and they get to be famous and get all kinds of perks. They don't realize that for the 5 minute video they watch there are hours of prep, a lot of filming time and then even more time spent editing. That's before you get to needing to know how to do your own marketing and networking.

[rogueslayer452]

I wonder if maybe the creative people would think about starting their own studios like they had done in the past.

That's quite a possibility, especially if both sides aren't going to budge and the studios really demonstrating their cartoonish villain for all to see, I'd say it's the most likely outcome. It won't be easy, but I think that walking away would probably be for the best.

You pretty much have to constantly be making content and be lucky and since so many are doing it you need to constantly have something new to draw people in.

Exactly, like with the entertainment industry, it is all based on luck. You can be doing all the right things, but based on the online algorithm of whichever social media platform is being used you most likely won't be getting noticed. But honestly, if you're doing what you're doing because you enjoy it and not caring about the views or the likes or followers and don't really care about whether you are a top "online creator" or whatever, then that's probably the best way of going about things.

They don't realize that for the 5 minute video they watch there are hours of prep, a lot of filming time and then even more time spent editing. That's before you get to needing to know how to do your own marketing and networking.

Seriously, it may look enticing but it's not easy, and not many are capable of handling that kind of pressure and hard work that entails.

And honestly, it's been so interesting watching the shift of seeing the younger generation say that they want to become an influencer when they grow up, because it's so wild to me that that's become kind of a possible career path. "I want to become an influencer" is the new "I want to be a Hollywood star", basically. Which on one hand, if you know what you want to do that's great, but on the other hand it makes me wonder how much they know of the process of what it takes to do that stuff. So many kids don't want to go to college or quit their jobs to pursue this and it's like, oh no, don't do that. Even professional actors in the entertainment industry tell beginner actors to not quit their day jobs, and there's a reason for that.

[elizalavelle]

I really hope something gets worked out with the strike. I saw Drew Barrymore is crossing the picket line and I'm so disappointed in her.

It's definitely interesting seeing the shift in the younger generations all saying they want to be influencers when they grow up. I guess it's similar to acting in that most won't really give it a go and of those who try a lot of them will quickly learn how hard it is and that you really don't get into that kind of creation unless you do have a passion for it. Otherwise it's just so much work for so little reward.

Maybe schools should do some "how to be an influencer" courses or clubs etc. so kids could learn the useful video editing and planning skills but also get a bit of an idea of how much work there is behind the scenes.

[rogueslayer452]

I've been reading about the Drew situation, which I admit was a bit confusing at first because I was getting conflicting reports with incomplete information. I finally got accurate details elaborating and the bottom line is that at the end of the day she is scabbing, which is disappointing.

Maybe schools should do some "how to be an influencer" courses or clubs etc. so kids could learn the useful video editing and planning skills but also get a bit of an idea of how much work there is behind the scenes.

Now there's an idea, yeah. Also, even if one isn't wanting to be an online influencer those skills do come in handy in other areas, as well.

[elizalavelle]

It was purposefully confusing. She/her people tried to make it like she fell under the same category as a news program so she'd be strike exempt anyway. Then they also tried talking about how it's a show that supports people through hard times because they debuted during Covid... like... no. She's scabbing and I'm glad that the internet has seen through it and is calling it what it is. I've read they're removing audience members who wear pins supporting the WGA and started searching bags after they had to have people taken out. That's just a mess. If there's nothing wrong with what she's done why hide the WGA support?

--

I'm a fan of the school course idea the more I think of it. Kids would be excited to learn which is always good and the skills of planning, marketing, video editing, presenting etc. are all transferrable to almost any other job so it's not as if it's wasted time for those who wind up not going into the influencer career.

[rogueslayer452]

Apparently she made an Instagram post recently "apologizing" but then doubles down, coming across as very ignorant and tone deaf as she vaguely implies she'll be continuing on with the show anyway. :/

[cinderlite]

^^^^^

I completely agree with your final assessment. "It's not a strike that anyone wants, but it is necessary." I think it's important that people understand this, and it's a shame that some of them do not.

[elizalavelle]

I saw she's not going forward any more and saw people celebrating and just... it wasn't because the audience protested. She'd have still go the ratings as most people don't actually care. It was that in the industry she was getting a lot of pushback too and that mattered to her. Good.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, it's very apparent that she only backed down because she was getting a lot of heat and backlash from other celebrities and she didn't want her reputation among them to be ruined. She would have still done her show had that not happened, as it was made clear from her now taken down non-apology video. (Which, btw, was such a bad video to begin with, it's kind of laughable because it's literally copy+paste of so many bad "apology" videos from YouTubers/influencers over the years, including the crying, that's what got me the most along with claiming that there was nothing she could do that would make it right with people. Like, c'mon Drew.)

And of course, the moment she announced she was backing down from continuing on with her show other talk shows that had previously announced they were returning as well backed down, as well. It goes to show that yes, there is an influence there, especially by big name celebrities such as herself.

[elizalavelle]

This feels like the year of bad celebrity apologies. Like laughably bad. Dress down, less/no make up, cry a little, don't say anything of substance...

I mean the dressing down starts to really grate at me because it's like they're trying to relate by appearing "poor" and just that's a shit way to admit you see your fans.

It's good other shows backed down as well. It's ridiculous any were willing to go ahead. All it does is make the wealthy people at the top more money. So gross.

[rogueslayer452]

There's definitely a fascinating psychological method to that tactic, because I've seen YouTubers/influencers pull that stunt all the time, as it's most certainly manipulative. They'll have the "no makeup, basic background, dressed in white/plain clothing" to appear more innocent and genuine than what their so-called apology video/message actually is. It's hilarious because it has happened so often that people are able to see right through it and call out the bullshit, including doing bingo cards of what a certain public figure's "apology" will include.

It's funny that big name celebrities are now doing this, too. It makes you wonder where their PR people are....

[elizalavelle]

Maybe the PR people see the trend and just think it's the thing to do? I mean it's possible that celebs are just making these videos and then leaving PR to clean up the mess after the fact. These aren't people who are green to the industry, they'd have someone involved in every part of their lives one would think.

I get when an influencer makes a video apology that is laughably fake because they may not have the full business team around them at all times. They've made a career out of doing a thing for themselves and that makes me think they'd likely have a different behind the scenes dynamic. But Hollywood celebrities are all a part of that machine. If you're at all famous you have a manager and PR and all kinds of people who are involved in helping you manage your career.

Social media really was not good for a lot of celebrities. It gives them the ability to put their unfiltered selves out there and a lot of them don't realize that's really not a good thing.