Writers Guild of America Strike 2023

Abstract

The objective of this case is to highlight the various aspects of the ongoing struggle faced by writers in the entertainment industry, specifically focusing on the dynamics between renowned writers and lesser-known talents, and the increasing inclination of producers towards hiring artificial intelligence (AI) scriptwriters. The case has also highlighted the various aspects of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike and discussed the issue of the labour dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in the USA. This research explores the dilemma where established writers often receive better pay and opportunities due to their brand image, while emerging writers struggle for recognition and fair compensation despite potentially superior skills. Additionally, the case delves into producers’ perspectives on cost-cutting measures, including the employment of AI to generate scripts, which presents a significant threat to the livelihood of human writers. The case has also investigated the potential impact of the strike on the entertainment industry. The main focus points of the strike, such as residuals from streaming media and concerns about the use of AI, were extensively discussed in the case. The strike seems to be the biggest threat and disruption to American television and film production since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The significant impact of the strike was also explored, and the effect of the strike on movie production, including delayed or halted production, script limitations, changes in creative direction, financial implications and impact on industry reputation, has also been elaborated in the case. Additionally, the case has also thrown some light on the previous WGA strikes held in 1960, 1988 and 2007–2008 that highlighted the importance of demanding the rights for compensation of writers throughout history.