Writers Could Strike on Hollywood for the First Time in 15 Years

The Takeaway

WNYC and PRX

Politics, Wnyc, Daily News, Radio, Takeaway, National, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 716 Ratings

🗓️ 18 April 2023

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Hollywood and the writers that make movies and TV shows possible are in the middle of a labor battle, which could bring Hollywood to a halt for the first time in 15 years. On Monday, members in the Writers Guild of America union cast their last ballots, and the union announced that 97.85 percent of members voted to authorized a strike. The writers’ union is currently in negotiations with Hollywood studios. The current contract ends on May 1st, which is when the strike would begin if both sides don’t reach an agreement. At the core of this strike is the rise of streaming content and platforms, with writers feeling left behind with shorter seasons, longer production times, and smaller residual checks. For more on this, we spoke with Brent Lang the Executive Editor at Variety.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Latif from Radio Lab.
0:02.1	Our goal with each episode is to make you think,
0:06.1	how did I live this long and not know that?
0:09.6	Radio Lab, adventures on the edge of what we think we know.
0:13.0	Listen, wherever you get podcasts.
0:18.7	Hey, everyone, I'm Jenae Pierre, in from Melissa Harris-Perry, and this is the takeaway.
0:23.4	It's good to have you with us.
0:25.1	So, have you watched anything good lately?
0:27.7	They really aren't.
0:29.5	Thanks very much, Mr. Cod.
0:31.4	Aren't you too for getting something?
0:33.3	Oh, you build in.
0:43.3	Hollywood and the writers that make movies and TV shows possible are in the middle of a labor battle, which could bring Hollywood to a halt for the first time in 15 years.
0:47.3	I am voting yes.
0:48.3	I'm voting yes.
0:50.3	I'm voting yes.
0:51.3	Writing should be a career that everyone can follow, especially writers of color.
0:55.4	We have the power to protect our economic security. Because lower and mid-level writers deserve to be
1:00.7	able to earn a living in this career. On Monday, members in the Writers Guild of America Union cast
1:06.7	their last ballots to authorize a strike. The Writers' Union is currently in negotiations
1:11.6	with Hollywood Studios. The current contract ends on May 1st, which is when the strike would
1:16.6	begin if both sides don't reach an agreement. At the core of this strike is the rise of streaming
	...

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