The screenwriters' strike is keeping the Hollywood film and television industry in check. It has been a week since the writers put down their pencils and stopped writing. There have been several consequences. Late-night shows are airing reruns and when it comes to series, not a day goes by that we don't hear about another one being canceled until further notice.
There have also been several layoffs. One example is David Simon. The screenwriter and executive producer, who had been working for HBO for more than two decades, announced on his Twitter account that the streaming platform had "suspend" his deal just after he joined the strike:
#WGAStrong. On the day that HBO called to suspend my deal after 25 years of writing television for them, I was doing the write thing. pic.twitter.com/WMWZbXAp41
— David Simon (@AoDespair) May 8, 2023
Simon is one of the network's legendary screenwriters. The creator of The Wire also worked on other projects such as Generation Kill, Treme, The Deuce, The Plot Against America and Show Me a Hero.
Disney and Warner threaten to fire showrunners
HBO is not the only one cracking down. Companies such as Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery (owner of HBO) sent their workers a letter ordering them to come to work, however, it was only addressed to showrunners. This role is a mix between executive producer and chief scriptwriter and, for this reason, many of them joined the strike. The companies threatened to terminate their contracts if they did not return to work.
According to these companies, the strike did not exempt them from their duties. Bob McPhail, deputy chief counsel for Disney-owned ABC Signature, explained this in the letter to the showrunners:
We want specifically to reiterate to you as a showrunner or other writer-producer that you are not excused from performing your duties as a showrunner and/or producer on your series as a result of the WGA strike. Your personal services agreement with [the] Studio requires that you perform your showrunner and/or producing duties even if the WGA attempts to fine you for performing such services during the strike. Your duties as a showrunner and/or producer are not excused, suspended or terminated until and unless you are so notified in writing by the studio.
"It's going to be a while" until the screenwriters' strike is over
The threats from the film companies are not having much effect on either the writers or the showrunners who plan to stay on strike. Tara Kole, a founding partner of JSSH, a law firm dedicated exclusively to entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter that the strike was a long time coming. "Any hope that this would be fast has faded. I hate to say it, but it’s going to be a while," she stated.
This seems entirely possible if we look at the statements from the Writers Guild Association (WGA). Chris Keyser, president of the organization's committee, said that the group will remain on strike as long as necessary, even more so after seeing how actors and other industry members joined the screenwriters and supported their strike:
The week has shown, I think, just how committed and fervent writers’ feelings are about all of this. They’re going to stay out until something changes because they can’t afford not to.
Meanwhile, series such as Stranger Things, the new Harry Potter series, the new spin-off of Game of Thrones and Daredevil: Born Again, among others, have had to stop production. If things continue, the Emmys, which are scheduled for September 18, could also be postponed until further notice.
