Could There Be A Hollywood Ending For Screenwriters?

A few days ago, I saw a tweet thread from Brittani Nichols, one of the writers for the show Abbott Elementary. Nichols tweeted about the percentage of Writers Guild of America members that were working for minimum wage and how it impacts writers of color. While the number of screenwriters who are people of color has increased, their wages have not.

Writers Guild of America Members Could Strike

As my colleague John Horn reported, members are actually making less than they were in the past. In addition to fighting for higher pay, they want supplemental compensation for the reuse or resale of recorded material. The increased popularity of streaming has turned their world upside down.

If there isn’t a collective bargaining agreement reached between the WGA the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers by May, members could go on a strike. The last time that happened was 2007-2008. It lasted for 100 days. If writers go on a strike, there would be a large ripple effect across the industry and film and TV production would gradually decrease.

John has more news about what's led to this moment and what the union is asking for.

As always, stay happy and healthy, folks. There’s more news below — just keep reading.

How To LA

We’re here to help curious Angelenos connect with others, discover the new, navigate the confusing, and even drive some change along the way.

Listen Now

More News

(After you stop hitting snooze)

• The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors rejected new renter protections as COVID-era eviction rules are set to sunset at the end of the month. 
• I probably sound like a broken record by now, but Southern California has been walloped by another atmospheric river. More rainfall records have been broken -- the last time Downtown L.A. had this much rain was 1893 -- and there was even a brief tornado warning. More rain is expected later today.
• Did you know that those who live in low-income affordable housing aren’t shielded from rent hikes? My colleague Ted Rohrlich reported on why most renters in tax-credit financed buildings have no safeguards when it comes to rent hikes. 
• Downtown L.A.’s Grand Park will be renamed “Gloria Molina Grand Park.” This comes after Molina announced that she has terminal cancer. 
• Michelin just added three L.A. County restaurants to its California guide. Check them out here. (LA Times)
• A recent study found that the political dynamics of the U.S. have had a negative impact on schools and students in California. EdSource’s Diana Lambert dug into why it’s now more common than ever before to find political tension over race and gender issues inside school communities.

(more news headlines here)

Wait... One More Thing

The Untold Story About L.A.'s Teenage Underground Party Crews

Janice Llamarco with her crew in the mid-2000s.

(

Courtesy Janice Llamarco

)

Once again, it’s my favorite day of the week, the day that we go back in time in L.A. history to learn something new.

Today, we’re going back to the 2000s, a time that many of us are probably familiar with. I was a teen back in those days and I loved wearing the Abercrombie and Fitch polos, singing my heart out to the Cheetah Girls CD and attending parties with friends.

Oh yes. Who can forget the 2000-era parties?

Award-winning journalist (and former all-girl party crew member) Janice Llamoca surely can’t. That’s why she’s leading us on a Y2K-era trip to her past and the days of party crews in L.A.

These parties were spaces for mostly Latino teens who wanted to get away from the problems and pressures that surrounded them. They were spaces to make friends and have fun.

But there were dangers.

In 2006, 14-year-old Emmery Muñoz from Boyle Heights went to one of these parties and never returned home. She was murdered. Her case remains unsolved.

In the latest episode of the How to LA podcast, my colleague Brian De Los Santos and Janice talk about growing up in L.A. during this time, sneaking out of the house to party and where Emmery’s case stands today. You can listen to the episode here.

Listen to their chat here.