The Hollywood Strike: AI vs. Creativity in the Film and Television Industry

2023-09-04 07:42:44

Screenwriters vs. Film Producers: Strike in Hollywood and everything comes to a standstill. A serious industrial dispute has shaken the film and television industry in Hollywood, which might soon spread to other industries. It’s basically regarding the extent to which AI can replace people. Here is the current state of affairs.

Stroke in Hollywood – What is it regarding?

The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents more than 11,500 screenwriters, battles the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major film and television studios. The conflict revolves around several key issues:

Streaming Post-Compensation: A major point of contention is the distribution of back payments from streaming media. The WGA claims that AMPTP stakes have significantly reduced authors’ earnings compared to a decade ago. So if a film runs on streaming channels for years, the contributors hardly earn anything from it, even though the films continue to make money.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): The authors call for AI, such as ChatGPT, to be used only as a tool to aid research or to facilitate script ideas, and not to replace them.

“Mandatory Staffing” and “Length of Employment”: The WGA would like to include “mandatory staffing” and minimum length of employment requirements in its contract. This would require all shows to be staffed with a minimum number of writers for a minimum duration, whether needed or not.

Individual pension and health insurance: The writers call for each member of a screenwriting team to receive their own pension and medical insurance, rather than treating this collectively.

The WGA represents the creative minds behind the films and television series. The AMPTP stands on the other side and represents the interests of the most powerful film and television studios, including Disney, Warner Bros., Netflix and others.

▹ Netflix Movies

▹ The Netflix series

▹ The Netflix Documentation

▹ Amazon Prime Film

▹ Amazon Prime series

Actors join the strike

Hollywood actors and actresses have also been on strike since July, increasing the pressure on the studios massively.

Even actors now have to be measured in large productions so that scenes can be created by computer (and without payment). That’s not a problem for the big stars, but it’s life-threatening for second- and third-tier actors, who get significantly fewer shooting days. These might be completely replaced by AI in the future. This applies to many professions and industries, and in this respect the strike in Hollywood is also seen as a harbinger of a social and ethical debate on the extent to which AI can be used to replace people or limit their development.

The Hollywood actors’ strike, which began in July 2023, is the result of an ongoing labor dispute between actors’ union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a Association representing film and television studios in collective bargaining with unions such as SAG-AFTRA and others. The actors’ union is currently led by actress and producer Fran Drescher (“The Nanny”).

Historical meaning: This strike is notable as it is the first time since the actors’ strike of 1980 that actors have initiated a labor dispute in the United States. It is also the first time since 1960 that actors and writers have gone on strike at the same time.

negotiations: Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP started in June 2023 following the existing contract expired in June. The union stressed the importance of economic fairness, regulation of AI and other issues.

strike approval: On June 5, 2023, SAG-AFTRA voted overwhelmingly to authorize the strike. Many prominent actors showed their willingness to strike to negotiate better terms.

course of the strike: Despite intensive negotiations, no agreement was reached between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP in July 2023. On July 13, the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee voted unanimously for a strike, and on July 14 the strike officially began.

demands of the actors: Among other things, the actors are demanding a fair salary increase and measures to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in film and television production. It must not lead to actors being replaced by computers.

strike actions: The strike action has severely affected the US film and television industry. Actors may not participate in film or television productions or do any promotional work. So award shows, premieres and film festivals also have to do without stars.

Hollywood Star Support: The strike has garnered the support of many prominent actors and actresses who are campaigning for better conditions in the industry. The strikers include the following stars, among many others: Steve Buscemi, Vin Diesel, Bobby Cannavale, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Aniston, Rob Schneider, Nancy Giles, Seth Rogen, Ashton Kutcher, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stiller, Nicole Kidman, Mila Kunis, Cameron Diaz, Tom Holland, Adam Sandler or Tom Cruise.

On August 31, journalist Mary McNamara wrote in an LA Times op-ed: “The writers and actors have already won the battle for solidarity and justice; the question now is how long before the studios get over themselves and close a deal.”

Fran Drescher has already announced that there will be a strike “as long as it is necessary”.

Which productions are currently affected?

We won’t feel the effects of the Hollywood strike until next year because many productions had to be postponed.

Postponed film productions

Here is a list of films affected by the 2023 Hollywood strike:

Anniversary (Lionsgate) – Script completed, production later suspended by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, later given permission to resume filming. Avatar 3 (Disney) – Premiere postponed to December 2025. Avatar 4 (Disney) – Premiere postponed to December 2029. Avatar 5 (Disney) – Premiere pushed back to December 2031. Avengers: Secret Wars (Disney) – premiere postponed to 2027. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (Disney) – premiere postponed to 2026. Average Height, Average Build (Netflix) – Production postponed indefinitely. The Batman: Part II (Warner Bros.) – Filming postponed to 2024. Best Served Cold (TBA) – Screenwriting on hiatus. Blade (Disney) – Pre-production paused ahead of scheduled start of shooting in June 2023, production will resume following strike is complete. Captain America: Brave New World (Disney) – Premiere postponed to July 2024. Challengers (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) – Premiere postponed to April 2024. Cleopatra (Universal Pictures) – Script production postponed for the duration of the strike. Community: The Movie (Peacock) – Filming is set to begin in mid-2023. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.) – Premiere pushed back to March 2024. El Muerto (Sony) – Release date pushed back indefinitely. Fantastic Four (Disney) – Premiere postponed to May 2025. Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (Roadshow Films) – premiere postponed. Freaky Friday 2 (Disney) – Creation paused. G20 (Amazon) – Production paused following Viola Davis decided not to continue for the duration of the strike. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (Warner Bros.) – Premiere postponed to April 2024. Good Fortune (Lionsgate) – Filming canceled on May 16 & 17, 2023 by strike activity, later suspended indefinitely. Gran Turismo (Sony) – premiere postponed to late August 2023. I Am (The CW) premiere postponed. The Island (TBA) – Production halted due to inability to obtain insurance with the WGA and upcoming SAG-AFTRA strike. It Ends with Us (Sony) – filming suspended; will continue following the strike is over. John Mulaney: Baby J (Netflix) – release unaffected (already released in April 2023, before the strike), later screenings and panels at Netflix FYSEE cancelled. Kraven the Hunter (Sony) – Premiere postponed to August 2024. My Ex-Friend’s Wedding (Sony) – Suspended production. Poor Things (Disney) – Premiere postponed to December 2023. Problemista (A24) – Premiere postponed indefinitely. Shelby Oaks (Paper Street Pictures) – Post-production suspended. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (Sony) – Premiere postponed indefinitely. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+) – premiere postponed. Strays (Universal) – Release postponed. Superman: Legacy (Warner Bros.) – Writer James Gunn has suspended writing for the duration of the strike. The Three-Year Swim Club (TBA) – Production is on hiatus. Thunderbolts (Disney) – Pre-production paused ahead of scheduled start of shooting in June 2023, production will resume following the strike is complete. Transformers One (Paramount) – Premiere postponed to September 2024. Trap (Warner Bros.) – Production delayed. Tron: Ares (Disney) – Production postponed indefinitely. Twisters (Universal) – Filming will resume following the strike concludes. Untitled Dirty Dancing Sequel (Lionsgate) – premiere postponed to summer 2025. Untitled Fast X Sequel (Universal) – Suspended from pre-production. Untitled Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel (Sony) – Release postponed to March 2024. Untitled How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Film (Universal) – Production suspended. Untitled The Karate Kid Sequel (Sony) – Premiere postponed to December 2024. Untitled Scream Sequel (Paramount) – Suspended from pre-production. Untitled Spider-Man: No Way Home Sequel (Sony) – development writing has been paused; will continue following the strike is over. Untitled Star Wars Film (Disney) – Premiere postponed to May 2026. Untitled Star Wars Film (Disney) – Premiere postponed to December 2026. Untitled The Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel (Universal Pictures) – Production Suspended. Untitled Transformers Film (Paramount) – Pre-production suspended. Unstoppable (Artists Equity) – Filming canceled due to strike activity on May 31, 2023, later suspended indefinitely. Welcome to the Fishbowl (TBA) – production on hiatus; Revisions suspended for the duration of the strike. White Bird (Lionsgate) – premiere postponed to late 2023.

Deferred series

Many series are also affected and are currently only being repeated because no new episodes can be shot without scripts.

61st Street (Season 2) – The CW – Season Start Postponed. 1923 (Season 2) – Paramount+ – Filming postponed indefinitely. 9-1-1 (Season 7) – ABC – Season start pushed back to mid-season. 9-1-1: Lone Star (Season 5) – Fox – Season start pushed back to mid-season. The Abandons (Season 1) – Netflix – Production suspended. Abbott Elementary (Season 3) – ABC – Paperwork discontinued. “Accused” (Season 2) – Fox – Season start postponed. Agatha: Darkhold Diaries (Season 1) – Disney+ – Originally announced for Winter 2023; postponed to early fall 2024. Alert: Missing Persons Unit (Season 2) – Fox – Season start postponed. “Alien” – FX on Hulu – production halted. All American (Season 6) – The CW – Season Start Postponed. All American: Homecoming (Season 3) – The CW – Season Start Postponed. “American Dad!” (Season 20) – TBS – Paperwork suspended during strike. American Primeval (Season 1) – Netflix – Production halted. “Andor” (Season 2) – Disney+ – Previously erroneously reported that production was unaffected; the production was closed. Animal Control (Season 2) – Fox – Season start postponed. “Babylon 5” – The CW – Development on hold until the strike is over. “Before” – Apple TV+ – production temporarily halted and then suspended until the end of the strike. “Bel-Air” (Season 3) – Peacock – Season start postponed to 2024. Big Mouth (Season 8) – Netflix – Paperwork discontinued. “Billions” (Season 7) – Showtime – Production halted several times due to strike activity. Blade Runner 2099 (Season 1) – Prime Video – Filming is not expected to resume until early 2024. “Blue Bloods” (Season 14) – CBS – Season start postponed. “Bob Hearts Abishola” (Season 5) – CBS – Season start postponed. “Bob’s Burgers” (Season 15) – Fox – Production on hold; 17 episodes have been completed. “The Boys” (Season 4) – Prime Video – Season start postponed indefinitely. “Bunk’d” (Season 7) – Disney Channel – Suspended production. The Chi (Season 6) – Showtime – Production paused indefinitely following two consecutive days of filming were disrupted by the strike. “Chicago Fire” (Season 12) – NBC – Season start postponed. Chicago Med (Season 9) – NBC – Season start postponed. “Chicago PD” (Season 11) – NBC – Season start postponed. “Chucky” (Season 3) – Syfy / USA Network – Production suspended. Citadel (Season 2) – Prime Video – Season 2 postponed to late 2024/early 2025. The Cleaning Lady (Season 3) – Fox – Season start postponed. “Cobra Kai” (Season 6) – Netflix – Production on hold. The Conners (Season 6) – ABC – Season start pushed back to mid-season. The Corps (Season 1) – Netflix – Suspended production. Criminal Minds: Evolution (Season 2) – Paramount+ – Production Delayed. “Crystal Lake” – Peacock – production halted. CSI: Vegas (Season 3) – CBS – Season Start Postponed. Daredevil: Born Again (Season 1) – Disney+ – Production repeatedly halted due to strike activity and then suspended for the duration of the strike. The Dark Tower – TBA – Development and production paused for the duration of the strike. Days of Our Lives (Season 58) – Peacock – Production continues without writer Ron Carlivati ​​and other union writers. ‘Doc’ (Season 1) – Fox – Series premiere postponed. Down Low in the DR: Just Another Day in Paradise (Season 1) – TBA – Production Paused. “Duster” (Season 1) – Max – Suspended production. Echo (Season 1) – Disney+ – Originally announced for November 29, 2023; postponed to January 2024. “Elsbeth” (Season 1) – CBS – Series Premiere postponed. Emily in Paris (Season 4) – Netflix – Filming initially postponed by 2 months; eventually postponed indefinitely. The Equalizer (Season 4) – CBS – Season start postponed. “Eragon” (Season 1) – Disney+ – Production suspended for the duration of the strike. “Étoile” (Season 1) – Prime Video – Production suspended. “Euphoria” (Season 3) – HBO – Season start postponed. “Evil” (Season 4) – Paramount+ – Production halted for the season. Extended Family (Season 1) – NBC – Series premiere postponed. “Family Guy” (Season 22) – Fox – Season 22 Complete; Production of additional seasons paused for the duration of the strike. “Fargo” (Season 5) – FX – Season start postponed. “FBI” (Season 6) – CBS – Season start postponed indefinitely. FBI: International (Season 3) – CBS – Season start postponed. “FBI: Most Wanted” (Season 5) – CBS – Production suspended for several hours; Season start postponed. “Fire Country” (Season 2) – CBS – Season 2 premiere postponed. “FUBAR” (Season 2) – Netflix – Production of Season 2 delayed. General Hospital (Season 60) – ABC – Production runs without writer Shannon Peace and other union writers. Ghosts (Season 3) – CBS – Season start postponed. The Good Doctor (Season 7) – ABC – Season start postponed. “Good Omens” (Season 2) – Prime Video – Production completed before the strike; subtitles incomplete; Season 3 paperwork on hold. “Good Trouble” (Season 5) – Freeform – Production paused due to strike activity and eventually suspended indefinitely. “The Great North” (Season 4) – Fox – production on hold; Season start postponed. Grey’s Anatomy (Season 20) – ABC – Season Start Postponed. “Hacks” (Season 3) – Max – Production suspended for the duration of the strike. Ironheart (Season 1) – Disney+ – Canceled because even if filming is completed, completion is hampered by the strike. The Handmaid’s Tale (Season 6) – Hulu – Paperwork interrupted. ‘High Potential’ (Season 1) – ABC – Series Premiere pushed back to mid-season. “Hysteria!” (Season 1) – Peacock – Production suspended for the duration of the strike. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight (Season 1) – HBO – Writing Room Closed; Series premiere postponed. “La Brea” (Season 3) – NBC – Season start postponed. The Last Frontier (Season 1) – Apple TV+ – Filming delayed. The Last of Us (Season 2) – HBO – Season start postponed. “Law & Order” (Season 23) – NBC – Season start postponed indefinitely. Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season 4) – NBC – Season start postponed. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Season 25) – NBC – Season start postponed. A League of Their Own (Season 1) – Prime Video – Season 2 originally scheduled for 2025, cancelled. The Librarians: The Next Chapter – The CW – Postponed to 2024. Little Sky – Netflix – TV Pilot; Production ended early due to strike activity on June 13th and 15th, 2023. Loot (Season 2) – Apple TV+ – Production halted as lead actress and executive producer Maya Rudolph refused to work on set during strikes. Lopez vs Lopez (Season 2) – NBC – Premiere postponed. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Season 2) – Prime Video – Season 2 was completed without Executive Producers JD Payne and Patrick McKay. The Mandalorian (Season 4) – Disney+ – Filming was scheduled to begin in September 2023 and has been pushed back to November 2023 or later. “Matlock” (Season 1) – CBS – Series premiere postponed. Metropolis – Apple TV+ series canceled due to strike and rising costs. “Monster” (Season 2) – Netflix – Production Delayed. A Murder at the End of the World (Season 1) – FX on Hulu – Series Premiere Postponed to November 2023. NCIS (Season 21) – CBS – Premiere postponed. NCIS: Hawai’i (Season 3) – CBS – Premiere postponed. The Neighborhood (Season 6) – CBS – Season start postponed. The Night Agent (Season 2) – Netflix – Production Delayed. “Night Court” (Season 2) – NBC – Production suspended indefinitely. Not Dead Yet (Season 2) – ABC – Season Start Delayed to Mid-Season The Old Man (Season 2) – FX – Production suspended for the duration of the strike due to required overhauls. On Call (Season 1) – Amazon – Production delayed due to writers on strike. Outer Banks (Season 4) – Netflix – Production Delayed. “Outlander” (Season 8) – Starz – Paperwork interrupted. “Peacemaker” (Season 2) – Max – Season start postponed. “The Penguin” – Max – production repeatedly stopped due to striking writers and then suspended for the duration of the strike. The Perfect Couple (Season 1) – Netflix – Production halted due to writers on strike. “The Peripheral” (Season 2) – Amazon Prime – production delayed; Series eventually cancelled. “Poker Face” (Season 2) – Peacock – Season start postponed to 2024. Power Book II: Ghost (Season 4) – Starz – Production halted due to writers on strike. “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” (Season 3) – Starz – Writing room closed. Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (Season 2) – Max – Production suspended due to writers on strike. P-Valley (Season 3) – Starz – Production postponed. “Rap Sh!t” (Season 2) – Max – Season start postponed. The Really Loud House (Season 2) – Nickelodeon – Production Suspended Due to Striking Writers. The Recruit (Season 2) – Netflix – Production Delayed. Rescue: HI-Surf (Season 1) – Fox – Series Premiere Postponed. The Residence (Season 1) – Netflix – Suspended production. Rick and Morty (Season 7) – Adult Swim – Paperwork partially completed before the strike. The Rookie (Season 6) – ABC – Season start pushed back to mid-season. The Sandman (Season 2) – Netflix – Production proceeds without Executive Producer Neil Gaiman and other writers on set, with no script revisions allowed. School Spirits (Season 2) – Paramount+ – Production delayed to 2024. “Severance” (Season 2) – Apple TV+ – Production postponed indefinitely. “Shrinking” (Season 2) – Apple TV+ – Production Delayed. “Silo” (Season 2) – Apple TV+ – Production suspended indefinitely. Sinking Spring (Season 1) – Apple TV+ – Production temporarily suspended due to writers on strike. So Help Me Todd (Season 2) – CBS – Season start postponed. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Season 3) – Paramount+ – Production suspended for the duration of the strike. Station 19 (Season 7) – ABC – Season start pushed back to mid-season. Stranger Things (Season 5) – Netflix – Filming postponed indefinitely. Superman & Lois (Season 4) – The CW – Season Start Postponed. “SWAT” (Season 7) – CBS – Season start postponed. “Ted Lasso” (Season 3) – Apple TV+ – release date unchanged; Season finale closing panel canceled at Paley Center for Media. That ’90s Show (Season 2) – Netflix – Filming suspended for the duration of the strike. Tokyo Vice (Season 2) – Max – post-production and premiere postponed for the duration of the strike. True Detective (Season 4) – HBO – Season Start Postponed to January 2024 Tulsa King (Season 2) – Paramount+ – Production Delayed. “Uncoupled” (Season 2) – Showtime – Filming paused for the duration of the strike. “Unstable” (Season 2) – Netflix – Suspended production. Untitled Ava DuVernay Drama (Season 1) – Starz – Production suspended. The Upshaws (Season 3) – Netflix – Suspended production. The Venery of Samantha Bird (Season 1) – Starz – Suspended production. “Virgin River” (Season 5) – Netflix – Season 5 will be released without promotion; Season 6 production delayed. “Walker” (Season 4) – The CW – Season Start Postponed. “Wednesday” (Season 2) – Netflix – Season 2 premiere postponed. “While You Were Breeding” (Season 1) – Freeform – Post production stopped. “The White Lotus” (Season 3) – HBO – Season start pushed back to 2024. Wild Cards (Season 1) – TBA – Development Paused. Will Trent (Season 2) – ABC – Season start pushed back to mid-season. “Wonder Man” – Disney+ – film shooting suspended at the end of May 2023; Production will resume once the strike ends. X-men ’97 (Season 1) – Disney+ – Originally slated for a Fall 2023 release; will now be released in early 2024. XO, Kitty (Season 2) – Netflix – Season 2 premiere postponed. “Yellowjackets” (Season 3) – Showtime – Writing room closed. You (Season 5) – Netflix – Production Delayed. “Young Sheldon” (Season 7) – CBS – Season start postponed. Zero Day – Netflix Film Shooting Delayed Zoe Ever After (Season 2) – BET+ – Production Suspended.
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