Friday, September 01, 2023
The Hollywood strike will affect all future creatives
Daily Trojan: For the first time in more than 60 years, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Writer’s Guild of America are on strike simultaneously. Since July 14, it seems as though Hollywood has been shut down, and future young creatives hoping to make it big will feel the effects as well.
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Right now, as a person who is working to pursue a creative career, I think a lot of us have mixed emotions about the strike. On one hand it is showing us how much the industries many of us want to spend our lives working with do not care about us. Evident by the disheartening comment by the executive mentioned at the end of the article. But on the other hand it is showing us how strong we are as artists and how much we care for each other. It has been almost two months and every day you see more people out on the picket line, both big and small. I think that artists are very proud people, and many of us have grown up knowing that it is not the most stable of careers, but we do it because we love it. So, although it is unfortunate how it's been playing out so far, I don’t believe this will dismay future artists from continuing to pursue a field in the arts.
As someone who is at the very beginning of my journey as a creative, this article does bring a small sense of fear and hesitation to my mind. I think that taking the leap of faith to go into the creative arts is already terrifying but with events like this happening it adds another level of fear. I am someone who is very aware of the issues within our industry surrounding pay, and hours, it is something that I took into consideration when deciding what path I wanted my career to take. But in the end I know that my love for the arts and for the community surrounding it I am willing to pursue it despite what is happening around it. However, I understand that is an incredibly privileged luxury and not everyone can afford to do that. My hope would be that with the strikes and demands for change something does shift and more people feel comfortable pursuing the jobs they enjoy.
Firstly, I had no idea the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists was on strike, let alone that it was the first time in sixty years that SAG, WGA and AFTRA had been on strike at the same time. Prior to entering Carnegie Mellon, I wasn’t aware of anything going on in the news about the industry. I wonder if potential creatives younger than me are aware of the strikes, and if they are, how much it affects their decision to pursue an education and career in the entertainment industry. Thinking back I wonder if it would have affected mine, and it might have. I think there is a hope that “oh it will be over by the time I need to work full time,” but I think I now recognize that this is a recurring issue that will never go away. That is quite disheartening to think about and to reckon with. I wouldn’t say the strikes deter me from the arts, but are more of an eye opener into “this is the reality, do you really want this? Are you prepared for this?” At the end of the day I think that’s a good thing because I’d rather decide now than when it is too late.
I enjoyed this perspective coming from a college student, you know, such as myself. I am so excited to see what good these strikes bring to workers. It is a little spooky because I am not sure what the future holds for the industry, especially when the strike finally catches up with where society’s watchlist is. The fact that three large unions are all on strike together holds a lot of power. It says mountains about the industry as a whole and how it treats the people within it. I would love to be able to do the work that I love while being financially independent and stable but that is not the world we currently live in. I know that strikes never end with both parties completely happy but I do hope that the people fighting for their worth at least get a little more respect by the end of this. And hey, maybe it will even get better.
I am someone who has not heard much about the strike in Hollywood, so this piece is incredibly interesting to me. I thoroughly understand and appreciate artists wanting to be recognized and treated fairly for their work, so I support this strike and bringing attention to the issues of the industry. Where it becomes interesting is when you think about all the issues caused because of the strike. With students being unable to intern and learn how to grow as artists, you severely stall the future growth of this dying art form. Not only are you blocking growth of incoming artists, but also blocking those currently in the field. I think hearing the perspective of an actual student in the article is fascinating because they mentioned how they could get another job, but they still need all these hours of training for theater they are unable to achieve. As someone currently pursuing a theater education, this makes a little bit wary of my ability to get into the industry and learn, and then be fully appreciated. I can only hope that we learn to value our creative teams and show support to those who deserve to be recognized for their work.
The most heartbreaking thing is how cruel the executives of these multibillion dollar companies can say their strategy is waiting for union members to lose their housing. Industries, especially this one, have always been cut throat but this lack of empathy or humanity is insulting. Of course it is also ironic coming out of the mouth of an executive who’s annual salary is 10+ million. Another article I read the other quoted that if major companies like Disney, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Netflix, and Amazon agreed to the terms, it would be less than 0.2% of revenue. I agree with the author that this is intimidating for those of us who will be joining the industry in the next couple of years or people who have spent a ridiculous amount on a college degree. Even if production companies agree now to provide a living wage, will they continue to support artists as AI becomes more of an issue?
As we move into a more technologically advanced society our art forms will change with this. As someone who is going to pursue art 100% in the future, this article is more than a little worrisome. However, art revolutions are something that has happened for centuries. This time is different with AI becoming a part of the problem. AI can create human-like ideas and art, in a quicker time and with less work. However, human creations will always stand alone. I believe if we keep pushing the bar and staying creative and saying what hasn't been said, we could keep the art, film, theater, and other industries alive. It will be a challenge getting into the industry, but with determination and skill, it can be achieved.
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