The Hollywood strike, which primarily involved the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), began in May 2023. The WGA strike lasted from May to September 2023, lasting nearly five months. The SAG-AFTRA strike, which started in July 2023, ended in September 2023 after reaching a deal with the major studios.
Timeline of the Strikes:
- WGA (Writers Guild of America) Strike:
The WGA members went on strike starting May 2, 2023, after failing to reach a new contract agreement with major Hollywood studios and streaming platforms. The primary concerns were pay raises, better residuals from streaming content, and protections regarding artificial intelligence (AI) usage in writing. The strike lasted until September 2023 when the WGA reached an agreement. - SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild) Strike:
SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors, announcers, and other performers, went on strike in July 2023 for similar reasons, including issues related to fair compensation, residuals from streaming, and AI protections for actors. The actors’ strike lasted for about two months, ending in September 2023 after an agreement was reached.
Outcome of the Strikes:
Both strikes were resolved with new contracts, though the details of those contracts included compromises on both sides. These agreements addressed concerns about fair compensation, especially in the era of streaming, and how to navigate emerging technologies like AI.
- For the WGA, the deal included better pay, protections for writers in the streaming age, and safeguards regarding AI.
- For SAG-AFTRA, the agreement focused on fairer residuals for streaming content, better protections for actors’ likenesses and voices in AI, and more favorable working conditions.
Impact of the Strikes:
The strikes had a significant impact on Hollywood production schedules, delaying many films and TV shows, especially those involving writing and acting. Some projects were paused or delayed, while others shifted to international or non-union productions. The industry as a whole experienced disruptions in content creation, but the end of both strikes allowed production to resume and schedules to normalize.
To summarize, the Hollywood strikes of 2023 lasted approximately 5 months for the WGA and 2 months for SAG-AFTRA, with both unions reaching agreements in September 2023.