The union remains at an impasse with studios over a host of labor issues, most notably residuals for streaming content, staffing levels in writing rooms and the use of artificial intelligence.
Picketing resumed Wednesday outside all the major L.A.-area studios as a strike by the Writers Guild of America that has quickly halted television and other productions entered its second day.
Following Monday night’s announcement by the WGA’s West Coast and East Coast branches that contract talks with the studios had broken down, the union walked off the job when its contract expired at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, the union’s first strike in 15 years.
Pickets went up beginning Tuesday afternoon — but on Wednesday, the strikers had an earlier call time of 9 a.m., according to the schedule posted on the WGA’s website.
Thousands of picketers marched outside the various studios, often joined by actors and other union members in solidarity. Comedian Jay Leno was spotted outside the Disney studios in Burbank on Tuesday.
The Producers Guild of America issued a statement expressing solidarity with the WGA members and their effort to “seek fair and equitable compensation for their work.
“We believe that everyone working in the film and television industry deserves to be fairly compensated for their work and receive essential benefits,” according to the PGA.
Picketing was being conducted at Amazon’s Studio in Culver City, CBS’ Studio City lot, Television City, The Walt Disney Co.’s corporate headquarters in Burbank, the Fox Studio Lot, Netflix’s Hollywood headquarters, Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Sony Studios in Culver City, Universal Studios and Warner Bros. in Burbank.
The union remains at an impasse with Hollywood studios over a host of labor issues, most notably residuals for streaming content, staffing levels in writing rooms and the use of artificial intelligence.
The strike will disrupt work on hundreds of movies, scripted television series, late-night talk shows and streaming productions. The late-night talk shows felt the most immediate impact, with shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” which is shot in Hollywood, going dark, along with programs including “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Networks aired reruns of those programs Tuesday night.
NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” also quickly fell victim to the strike, canceling this week’s planned live episode hosted by Pete Davidson.
The walkout was also expected to have a wide-ranging economic ripple effect on thousands of crew members and behind-the-scenes workers such as hair-and-makeup artists, transportation employees and food servers — as well as impact businesses near studios such as restaurants that typically serve workers who, for the foreseeable future, will not be reporting to work.
Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said whether directly or indirectly, “every single one of us will be impacted by this (strike).”
“We’re very concerned about what’s going on, because both sides are dug in, and the stakes are high,” Newsom said.
