One hundred and twenty-two days have passed since actors and writers set foot on the picket line against the film industry. They have devoted their lives to reforming Hollywood, calling for a change to the payment and residuals they have received and accepted for decades. Actors and writers believe that they have been exploited and taken advantage of by massive companies and CEOs who only care about the money that they made off the actors’ projects.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) ended its strike on November 9; the Writers Guild of America had ended its strike on September 26. Although both parties received the outcome they sought, the efforts required to get to that point are almost unbelievable. Junior Angelina Patino commented, “It is upsetting that actors had to go on strike for what they want, and it is even sadder that it took so long for people to realize that actors and writers need better pay.”
Going on strike meant that over 160,000 actors in the union were now jobless, which also impacted the companies that had benefited from the actors’ and writers’ talents. As well as being unemployed, those who had previously acted in projects that would come out during the strikes were not allowed to do any press or promotions for their projects.
While the lack of press, promotions, interviews, or behind-the-scenes content was strenuous to those in the entertainment industry, thousands upon thousands of celebrities showed their support towards the issue. Larry David, Jimmy Fallon, Quinta Brunson, and Tina Fey, to name a few, have all broadcasted the significance of doing the right thing even if it costs everything. In an article entitled, “All the Celebrities Who have Shown Their Support for the 2023 Writers’ Strike,” posted on Today’s website (Today.com), Fallon is quoted as having said, “I wouldn’t have a show if it wasn’t for my writers; I support them all the way.”
While many gloss over this strike as an overreaction from multi-million-dollar celebrities, the strike brought to light what happens behind the curtains. Taking a stand on such an important matter has made people reassess what information in the media to believe and what not to. Payment has been an issue for actors and writers for a long time; the last time a strike this massive took place traces back sixty years ago.
What was the real reason for the strike? Although the answer is cumulative and has different reasons attached to it, the main one is the lack of respect and money that came from the people with the power. For example, the increasing use of streaming services has negatively impacted writers and the paychecks that they receive. Once streaming took over, writers suffered greatly; they had fewer weeks to finish their scripts and a more limited budget than beforehand. Actors were dealing with similar circumstances; they were not gaining the residuals they deserved, which left many angry and confused. How does the lead of a show that is in the top-ten on Netflix hardly make above minimum wage?
These conflicts and disputes between writers and actors and massive corporations were the initial reason for the start of the strike. Junior Jack Cegile expressed, “I think they were right in striking because they would not have been able to get a solid chance at gaining what they vouched for otherwise.” After months of fighting for it, the writers and actors have finally gotten what they deserved in the first place.
Although some may not comprehend what this victory means to the actors and writers, everyone can understand what it means to be ripped off from something that he or she deserves. “Having massive corporations take advantage of actors and writers should not be allowed in the world we live in today,” said sophomore Dani Zhanay. Everyone can also understand what it means to stick up for something one believes in, just like these actors and writers did. It took a lot of dignity and horsepower to stand up to massive corporations that could easily have taken every single one of their careers for good. Each actor and writer in the industry deserves to be treated with respect and appreciation for the work he or she creates for millions to watch and enjoy.
