It's great to hear, as a non-movie / tv artist who's recently joined a new Artists' Union in Ireland! It's also heartening to hear from the US, where unions have been so denegrated and demonised down the years. Getting "Cradle Will Rock" vibes!
Always pro-strike. The people who actually make the content that earns money should be paid far more than some dude who decided it could be smart to send DVDs in the mail two decades ago.
I think Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 being such a hit is also a big win for writers. The public often forget, but James Gunn started his professional career as a writer. He only directed his first feature film with Slither in 2006. He is at his core, a writer, actually having more writing credits than he does directorial credits. And with the GotG trilogy being consistent hits, it really shows the value of good writers and the potential they can achieve when the creative environment allows it.
@@redtomato4903 There is a box office that shows numbers. FastX made in 1 week what Guardians made in 3. Even Super Mario destryed it. It's behind every big movie of 2023 so far
This is just so insightful letting me know what they striking for. The breakdown of how much money they make is really not as much as I always thought. These writers need to be paid the money they deserve they create some of my favorite shows and movies.
Add to this the job insecurity and the long stretches of time between jobs without any income. TV writing used to be a much more stable profession once you broke in and the streaming networks have changed it entirely.
I disagree. Writing isn’t hard in the body. They’re not saving lives or making scientific discoveries. The crime isn’t they’re underpaid, it’s that cinema is over valued imo
I agree with this truth: we need better writing. But in this capitalist environment gone completely off the rails, profit trumps any meaningful effort: Hollywood has learned it can cut corners and still make millions! - They won't stop now; producers and execs will buy 2 to 3 private jets while the rest of the company struggles to eat.
@@MystifiedBeef It has everything to do with it. These are the same writers who wrote such poor content that Disney stocks tanked and lost tons of subscribers to streaming services yet they expect more money among a huge list of demands for subpar quality work. Would you pay a barber 200% more money for giving you a bad haircut? Now go sit in a corner and reflect on your silly statement little kid
As an IATSE member striking alongside the teamsters, SAG, and the DGA in solidarity with WGA, thank you for this. None of us want to be out of work worried about where our next check will come and away from our dream job, but we all know how important this strike is and can't allow the AMPTP to continue abusing their power.
Yeah but Marvel star wars and most recently even indiana Jones were ruined by bad writing full of propaganda. I d pay more to the guy that wrote breaking bad but i wouldn't allow any writer of velma, Shehulk, rings of power, whell of time , Willow etc in the door. So minimum Numbers of writers is not something we should agree . Most of all now that you're ruining entertainment for everyone to push dumb agendas.
@@gebopt first of all, whether one's good or bad (relatively speaking) at one's job isn't indicative of whether they should be compensated AT MINIMUM for cost of living adjusted for inflation and changing times. Second, you fail to realize, because I imagine you don't work in film or television, how much studios interfere in projects. Which again boils down to your problem being with studio heads as opposed to those on set every day for an average of 14 hours. I bet if you IMDb the writers on any of the shows you listed you'll find a good body of work. There is so much more outside of anything Disney owns out there, that, let's face it, are made for CHILDREN with adults in mind. I find it fascinating how when groups of unions/working class individuals strike, the people tend to point the blame on the workers and not those refusing to agree to terms holding all the money that's rightfully due to those bringing these works to life. You may not be a fan of a lot of these works but they're still making a lot of money from it meaning something's working, again your problem is with the same people we have a problem with yet you choose to blame us.
@@yanafelani can't look at it that way, had we gone on strike two years back, the WGA would have stood right by us but unfortunately we bluffed and the AMPTP called it. What this strike is doing is setting precedent for negotiations down the road.
Thank you for making a video on this incredibly important topic. These writers NEED to be paid, it's ridiculous that this strike has to happen at all. Next up, directors, then the actors after. The studios better be ready to stop being so greedy and pay out who actually makes the money.
God this was a great collab! You asked him THE BEST questions and everything I'd been considering both sides and he responded so thoughtfully to each. I love it, this was a great interview!
I think the misstep the execs are taking is thinking that everyone only cares about money. Artists/writers etc WANT to be able to create. They also need to eat. Loved this conversation. ❤
And this is another major reason why I think we need to go back to buying physical media. Streaming is not sustainable. You get a whole host of movies for 20 dollars. It may be great for consumers, but that cuts a huge hole in profit for creatives who produced these shows and movies. Buying a physical copy of a movie or album means that everyone gets a fair cut who all worked behind those projects. Singers on streaming platforms only get 0.01 of 1cent each time their some is played, and 1500 steams = 1 album sale. It's highway robbery.
This is the kinda stuff that sets ScreenCrush apart from the others 😊 great video, I am glad more people are seeing the importance of this strike and unions! We need MORE unions.
A pretty important issue is making sure writers get experience. Writers can't just write in isolation, they have to understand the practicalities and limitations of production. They have to know what sets, costumes, locations a show/movie can get, how much time they have for effects, how many stunts can be done, etc. And writers have to be able to adapt when circumstances change like if a stunt actor gets injured, they'd have to rewrite an action scene, if two actors have really great chemistry, they'd add more dialogue between their characters, if they can't shoot at a location because of weather or something that closes the location off, they may need to rewrite a significant section of the script. The problem with the mini rooms is that the writers won't necessarily be involved in other parts of production. So newer writers don't get the experience they need. It's really screwing over the next generation of writers. But you know who will be allowed on set to learn all the ins and outs of the business? Friends and families of the showrunners and producers.
"they have to understand the practicalities and limitations of production". No, dude. You're thinking of producers, production designers, costume designers, prop masters, and I could go on all day. Writers, wait for it, write.
@@SamLanena you do realize that all those other people have to be able to use what the writers write, don't you. A writer can't just write a huge action scene if the movie doesn't have the effects budget. None of these departments are working independently, they all have to be involved with each other so they don't waste time or resources on things they can't do.
@@SamLanena Writers have to make changes to the script on the fly throughout the production process. In the past, you would have a writer available on set to do that.
@@free22 That's also the issue with the mini writer's room. The writer's aren't on set if there are production issues and a scene needs to be changed. It's also worth noting the Bond movie Quantum of Solace was affected by the first writer's strike back in 2007 that Daniel Craig and the other departments had to finish off the script, and no shock it was godawful and the worst Craig Bond movie.
Ryan is a great interviewer. Adam shed light on lots of things that I wasn’t aware of. I hope the strike is successful. We can’t have just one group of people making all the massive amount of money.
This is a great video, Ryan. I've been following the strike pretty closely and already felt I had a good understanding of it, but very useful to have a video like this covering all the basics in layman's terms.
😂 people still going to watch Big companies don’t care. WGA fucked up big time by not understanding the worth of streaming back then they blockbustered themselves
This was a really great interview. I have a much better understanding of what's going on, and I'm really happy to see all my favorite RU-vid channels raising awareness. Thank you!
I appreciate you playing devils advocate throughout the interview Ryan. It really brought some great points up and allowed some better info to be divulged to help me understand. It says a lot I think that seemingly most people are on the side of the writers despite knowing that they might have less of their favorite content for a while than they did during Covid. We all know it sucks and that we are going to miss a lot of great content for who knows how long, and yet most people seem to be firmly on the side of the writers
Really appreciate the effort ya'll put into this video to explain the strike in a clear and concise way but also tailor it to the perspective and interests of the viewers so we can better understand what's at stake for our own interests and entertainment. Having an actual member of the guild lay everything out like that was great too. Love this!! Also crazy to think a lower rung writer could be making that low of a salary. I always expected triple digits for writers considering the value they hold in the industry, wtf!
So, now I understand why Disney is canceling some series (e.g. Willow) after one season. It’s to keep the writers in constant flux, which is pretty crappy. Especially when it’s a good show, and keeping writers cheap is more of a priority than keeping a good show on air. Also, $70K a year is pretty basic, and I would argue poverty wages, in California. When rents are thousands of dollars per month, house prices are half a million for a shack, and food prices are high, $70K is nothing for writers creating a hit show worth billions. The industry can do better.
I'm a relatively new subscriber and this is my first time commenting on your channel I got hooked after watching AM - Quantumania and wanted to know more and i found all these Marvel "recap" type channels and of them all I found your videos to be the most informative while also being very entertaining and you have a likable personality on camera as well "those your mom jokes are hilarious and always catch me off guard lol" Please keep it up and I can't get enough of your Kang videos.
As a teacher's assistant and aspiring writer, I believe the strike is very much needed. The writers aren't asking or demanding any unrealistic changes. The production companies make billions upon billions of dollars while the writers only get pennies, this is not right. If there were no writers, the production companies would be broke so it would be best for the production companies to stop being so greedy with the money and pay the writers fairly and agree to their demands.
Great interview. Sounds like a tricky transition to make the labor structure catch up to the new realities of streaming. It also seems similar to the sports world, where the pro sports models in various leagues are squeezing out the middle class of players. Hope it gets resolved in a sustainable way!
- I'm a writer and professional actor with eight years of training and ten years of experience - The writers have already been underpaid and overworked for more than a decade now; Hollywood has been cutting their corner for a long time, trying to increase profits thru less effort and disrespect to script. - This strike has been a long time coming, and is necessary. Sadly, it will all be for nothing, since A.I. will absolutely replace most of them and their work; ideas can be pitched by producers and directors. - The strike has come too late and is asking for too much! They will get nothing. - Good day sir. -
Thanks for this video, it was much needed and explained so much. Really appreciate the interview vibes, if possible, you should consider interviewing people more because you were so professional and courteous. I’ll love anything Ryan and the rest of the ScreenCrush crew do!!
This was very enlightening. When I first heard of the strike, I bought into the "spoiled writers who don't want to adapt" line that was fed to me. This couldn't be FURTHER from that. I hope the writers win.
Thanks for the well-researched explanation! I'm biased because I used to be a union organizer and contract negotiator (UAW). But for contract disputes in general, it's refreshing to have the issues explained in such detail! Writers are what makes the shows watchable. Support writers!
PAY THE WRITERS!!!! I'm sick and tired of this capitalist world that has few people living in unimaginable amounts of wealth where the VAST majority can barely survive.
It would be so great if the entire VFX industry could have these things too. Thankfully you have a Union. I hope the strike is resolved soon, cause wow, all of the VFX artists are hurting here too.
I'm a storyboard artist here in LA. I'm with the ADG. I have friends/colleagues who are Art Directors, Production Designers, Model Makers and other storyboard artists - our whole industry is shut down. Its been tough but we all know this is IMPORTANT. Streaming and AI are the big issues. *We all do better when WE ALL do better. I stand with WGA.
An often overlooked aspect of the writers being on strike is that it affects others in the industry as well, such as those in post-production. We have nothing to help edit because nothing has been written. Assistant editors especially don't have agents or anything, so it very much is gig work. Many people, myself included, have been out of work for months, even before the strike started, because nobody wanted to start making content knowing a strike was imminent. I stand with the writers and hope a resolution comes soon.
Thank you for doing this, Ryan! By giving us insight to better understand we can hopefully show solidarity. Better work conditions creates better stories we love! I love Marvel, but these conditions need to change ❤
Put simply for the movie/tv going public: You know how 'studio interference' messed up your favorite, anticipated, show/movie? Those are the guys who think all they need is lots of special effects/stunts and gimmicks to make their show successful, they think they can do a 'better' job than the writers who give the characters depth, motivation and empathy. "Breaking Bad" "Better Call Saul" "Barry" all spectacular shows because of their writers.
Ryan, you’re the reason I love this channel (and the writers who give you these scripts!! ❤) The solidarity and positivity are really addictive. So tired of “MCU ruined…”, there’s good and bad in all art Keep us informed with this strike please! Keep pulling voices from the people experiencing it please!
As someone who aspires to be a writer, his message at the end about fighting for the next generation of writers is touching and encouraging to say the least
I totally support the writers. They are the real story tellers. It sounds beyond frustrating to be in these position. Writers just want to create, for our benefit, those little ideas that live in their mind that want to come out. It is sad that don't get taken seriously. I support the writes! They are the magical people who entertain us. They should get everything they want! Also the AI components are going to make this "golden tv era" fall flat. It's already been happening. There is a real tangible difference with a AI script vs a writers creation. You can have a actor give it a body, the director gives it the mind but the writers give the character the soul.
This was an amazing and very illuminating vid, Ryan. Thank you for this! As an artist myself, most definitely stand in solidarity with the WGA, and am willing to forgo the entertainment I love so that they may be fairly compensated for their part in creating it!
I'm so happy to see the issues here raised so more people are aware of them. There is no reason the studios shouldn't meet writer's demands other than pure corporate greed. Thank you for shedding light on a confusing subject.
Great video and interview. The unfortunate thing to remember about AI is that it is only going to get better. Sure, it can’t really viably replace writers and content creators right now, but give it a few years. It will learn to mimic empathy and emotion and that will probably be good enough for some execs. Even audiences may become numb to it in certain situations. It’s a scary future for the industry and for art in general.
The messaging needs to be clearer to support the writers. They need to promote a "streamless summer" just ask people to cutout streaming services to support the writers. It doesn't have to be all streaming services just the ones you've watched what you've wanted. Within one quarter any exec that hasn't given in to the demands will simply be replaced by the board as the share prices plummet.
what are these companies even thinking. They are literally nothing without the writers. They just gonna sit on there hands and lose money just so that they don’t have to pay these guys.
He asked so many amazing questions that helped me learn so much about the strike and what going on hope all these writers are able to make what they deserve
This one has nothing to do with marvel specficially and everything to do with who owns them. The Most Kevin Feige can do about the writers is give Bob Iger the riot act and hope Iger listens. But he has no actual say in these negotations and I'm sure he's pissed as hell about it.
A writer in Hollywood can take home less pay after tax per year than a full time supermarket worker in Scotland who gets holiday pay, discounts, sick pay, works no more than 39 hours week no unsocialable hours (after midnight some weekends perhaps depending on contract). We did the maths on twitter. SAG, DGA need to come out too now and then this would be finished very quickly with a resolution in favour of the creatives the studio execs are nothing without the writers.
The silver lining is that The WGA strike and the others give the MCU an excellent excuse to wait while Jonathan Majors court date plays out . What will get bad is if we have WGA, SAG, and DGA all strike and the debt ceiling breaches for like several weeks. I mean I support the writers strike however that is a lot going on at the same time and highly both likely and unlikely anything gets done. So I hope for a good deal for everyone it's just like so many terrible things at once colliding and all from multimillionares or more who do nothing but hoard their money.
Really great that you'd produce this in support of the people who make your channel possible. Business extracts as much as possible while trying to get away with paying people as little as possible.
We're all here because we love entertainment, but it is just that. The health and future of all the actual creatives behind that entertainment is absolutely paramount, way beyond the work itself. Brothers and sisters fight the power
Yeah the fact that these companies don’t share streaming numbers is ridiculous and blatantly only so that they can control and manipulate situations like this.
This interview was so wonderful to learn from a outside view I know completely understand why this is happening I look at the news and think Hollywood writers just want more money again but actually hearing the story behind it makes you think . About how online has changed lives for music , media and ect . Thank you Ryan for making me actually understand it . I feel for the lower paid actors and writers . Thinking of you guys here in Australia 🇦🇺
Fully support the strike. As far as the slowing or lack of content goes: nobody watching this video has seen all the classic movies, shows, read all the classic books, or finished all the best games: work on your backlogs people. And ScreenCrush can put together a video explaining why Ryan always takes digs at Ezra Bridger because they seem uncalled for and I want an explanation.
What the Writers are asking for here is a the equivalent of a softball splashing into a very large pond. Actors don't win Emmys or Oscars without solid writing behind them and these writers (new and old) need to be taken care of. After fees, dues and taxes, your entry level writer, has to figure out how to live off of about 38k a year, this does not include rent\mortgage, utilities or food.
I loved watching this, I have only had a general idea of what was going on, but to go so in-depth with as much as could be said, I loved hearing it and it only further emphasizes my support for all the writers out there.
I remember Ryan Reynolds talked about the writers' strike in the late 2000's when X-Men Origins: Wolverine was being developed and said that he actually had to improvise all of Wade Wilson's lines in the film because the strike was currently taking place then. We all know that film suffered critically and from an audience perspective because the script wasn't given the time to nourish. Numerous films and TV series suffered because of the strike, and I hate that the studio executives are treating the people that literally create the product less than 100 again, it's just not fair. And I had no idea how detrimental streaming services actually are to a screenwriter(s) profession. This really opened my eyes.
