By Ada Kessler

For most people within today’s society, television is an integral part of life. They watch it in the morning to be entertained as they get ready and they watch it at night to unwind after a long day. The average U.S. adult watches 294 minutes of television per day according to marketingcharts.com. This doesn’t even account for the time spent discussing television with friends and family and otherwise engaging with that media.

So what happens when this is disrupted?

On May 2, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike due to disputes over labor with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the first Hollywood strike since 2007. On July 14, 2023, SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) also went on strike due to labor disputes. When SAG-AFTRA went on strike, it was the first time the organizations had joined forces in striking since 1960. 

These strikes aimed to disrupt production of ongoing movies and shows in attempts to receive more viable working conditions. These groups are both labor unions for Americans involved in film and television media productions. As their names suggest, the WGA focuses on the writers while SAG-AFTRA focuses on performers. Both groups fought for better wages, as their pay hadn’t been adjusted accordingly to inflation.

Another big concern is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has been growing swiftly in the past few years, posing a threat to many artistic careers. Many writers display concern regarding AI overtaking them and putting them out of a job. Meanwhile, actors are concerned about AI using their likeness in films or television without their permission. 

After months of negotiations, both strikes have both concluded, with the WGA strike ending September 27, 2023 and the SAG-AFTRA strike ending November 1, 2023. They’ve both reached tentative deals which have in turn raised their wages and created protections around AI, among other things. 

However, the fight for labor rights for workers in this industry is far from over. On January 9th, 2024, SAG-AFTRA announced that members’ voices will be allowed to be used by AI in video games according to Forbes. This part of the deal has been controversial as it negatively impacts voice actors and their ability to work/have a liveable wage so soon after SAG-AFTRA was striking for its members rights. It’s possible the deal will be undone due to the negative backlash, but only time will tell.

Following the respective strikes ending, many TV shows and movies have been released or resumed production after long delays. Some prominent examples include the newest addition to The Hunger Games universe, A Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes, which has currently made $328 million dollars. Percy Jackson’s show adaptation received 13.3 million views in its first six days, and everyone is raving about the newly released psychological thriller, Saltburn. On top of this, production has resumed on several projects. This includes but is not limited to the Beetlejuice sequel, the final installment of the Spider-Verse movies, and Avatar 3.

The awards season has also begun with the Golden Globes being hosted on January 7, 2024. It had historic wins with Lily Gladstone becoming the first indigenous woman to win a Golden Globe. The Emmys then took place on January 15th with Elton John achieving prestigious EGOT status and Quinta Brunson becoming the second black woman to win lead actress in a comedy series. The Oscars are scheduled to occur March 10th and are sure to be a nail biter.

2023 was a strong year for movies and shows, hence the nervous excitement surrounding award season. Even as strikes were in place, the movie and television industry flourished. While the fight by the SAG-AFTRA and WGA members hasn’t fully been settled, important historic labor rights were won, and the studios are once again producing the films and shows Americans love.