Hollywood faced a significant halt as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined forces in a strike. The joint strike was initiated in July 2023 after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed to address critical concerns raised by the unions during contract negotiations. These concerns included fair wages, the use of artificial intelligence, and other pressing issues affecting the entertainment industry.
The decision for the SAG-AFTRA strike came two months after the WGA announced their own labor dispute with the AMPTP. The AMPTP represents major networks such as Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony.
While the strike brought most TV show productions to a halt, some series were granted permission to continue filming under specific circumstances.
Netflix’s “Outer Banks” was among the TV shows that initially continued filming during the WGA strike. Presumably, their scripts were already completed before the strike began. However, nearly all projects eventually paused their production after the SAG strike was authorized. Nevertheless, a few exceptions remained in place.
“House of the Dragon”
The Game of Thrones prequel series, “House of the Dragon,” continued filming in the U.K. The cast of “House of the Dragon” mainly consists of U.K. actors who are governed by the union Equity. According to Equity’s regulations, its members are prohibited from participating in strikes due to certain U.K. laws that could lead to legal consequences. Consequently, the show remained in production for its second season, with no writing revisions allowed.
“Dune: The Sisterhood”
The upcoming sci-fi series “Dune: The Sisterhood,” set in the Dune universe, also follows Equity rules. Similar to “House of the Dragon,” “Dune: The Sisterhood” adheres to Equity rules, which disallow boycotts in response to the anti-strike laws in the U.K.
“The Chosen”
“The Chosen,” a faith-based series acquired by The CW, became the first TV show to receive an exemption during the strike in July 2023. Despite the strike, “The Chosen” was granted permission to continue filming. However, the specific reasons for this exception were not specified by the production.
The joint strike has had a substantial impact on the entertainment industry, disrupting numerous TV show productions and raising important issues regarding fair treatment and wages for artists and workers. While many projects have temporarily paused, the exceptions granted to some TV shows have demonstrated the complexity of navigating strikes and labor disputes in the industry.
As the strike continues, industry professionals, unions, and studios must continue to engage in negotiations to find a resolution that addresses the concerns of the writers, actors, and all those involved in the creation of the shows that captivate audiences worldwide. The outcome of these negotiations will shape the future of the entertainment landscape and determine the working conditions and compensation for those who bring our favorite stories to life on screen.