We are nearing the end of the first week of the Writers Guild of America strikes. The WGA, which represents film and television writers, authorized a work stoppage and strike on May 2. The strike comes after the AMPTP, which represents film and television studios, refused to bring a reasonable deal to the table before the expiration of the current WGA contract. The WGA is seeking fairer wages, better residual structures, and protections from AI amongst many other issues.
The strike has brought Hollywood, and the East Coast TV networks, to a standstill. In New York, most late-night shows have gone off the air as their writer’s rooms walked out. Meanwhile, the pre-production of several films, such as Marvel’s Blade, has also come to an end. However, it appears as though the AMPTP is settling in for a long strike. Unconfirmed reports suggest that studio executives are booking yachts and European vacations to take advantage of the work stoppage. The WGA last went on strike in November 2007, remaining on strike until February 2008.
Pete Davidson Brings Pizza And Signs To the Picket Line
Pete Davidson saw his Saturday Night Live hosting spot canceled due to the strikes. However, Davidson is a union man through and through. He visited the picket outside the famous Silvercup Studios in Queens. One video posted to TikTok by a Davidson fan account includes audio of Davidson saying “no writers, no shows” to picketers. Photos also emerged of Davidson joining the picket, holding a sign that read “We want fair contracts now!” along with an illustration of a set of scales.
But picketing is also hungry work, especially when the studios have been paying you barely enough to live on. Davidson came around with a tower of pizza boxes to help keep the picketers going. In a similar move, Jay Leno brought donuts for picketers at Disney Studios in Burbank earlier in the week. The WGA strikes have received overwhelming support from actors and producers. Figures like Brett Goldstein, Quinta Brunson, JJ Abrams, and Mike Flanagan have all visited the picket lines. Meanwhile, people like Drew Barrymore have boycotted Hollywood obligations in solidarity with the striking writers. HotNewHipHop will have all the latest stories from the WGA strikes.
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