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The Last Hollywood Writers’ Strike Lasted 100 Days. This One May Last Much Longer
Writers Guild of America members and supporters picket in front of Walt Disney Studios on the first day of the writers strike on May 2, 2023 in Burbank, California.
(
Brian Feinzimer
/
for LAist
)
A hundred days into the Hollywood film and television writers’ strike, negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and major Hollywood studios remain stalled, with no resolution in sight.
For those on strike, the hundred-day mark is especially significant: It took that many days to resolve the previous writers’ strike that began in late 2007. Some of those striking now were on the picket lines 15 years ago — and for similar reasons.
Then versus now
Back in 2007, film and TV writers demanded fair pay as streaming services, then referred to as “new media,” first began to enter the picture.
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TV producer and writer Walton Dornisch was a newly single dad when he went on strike in 2007. He remembers how relieved he was to get back to work and start earning again.
“It was a great relief, because I wanted to get my son to a point where he would be successful in life," Dornisch said, “and get back to Hollywood as quickly as possible, because I grew up in the business…the business is all I ever knew.”
Dornisch has been a WGA member since 1992 and is participating in the current strike.
This time, the Writers Guild of America is once more seeking better pay, along with protection against the use of artificial intelligence. Last month the writers were joined by actors seeking the same when SAG-AFTRA entered the strike.
‘This one feels a little more scary’
Dornisch said he feels even more passionate about this strike and what the writers are pushing for.
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“The residual checks I see are pennies for a country. I mean, it's insane,” Dornisch said. “[What] is going on right now with the Writers Guild and SAG, it's critical for the future of labor in this country.”
He said he’s prepared for the long haul. But veterans of the 2007 strike also say it’s disheartening that 100 days in, no agreement has been reached yet with the studios.
Cynthia Kershaw, an art department coordinator and SAG-AFTRA member, was also involved in the 2007 strike.
“This one feels a little more scary,” Kershaw said. “This one feels like it's gonna go on until January.”
Kershaw has been working in the industry for two decades and is worried about her financial future; she plans to retire seven years from now. She said she's contemplating a career change.
"I have to decide if it's worth it having this on-again, off-again work for seven years,” Kershaw said.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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