VOA文化艺术2023--Hollywood Writers Expected to Settle In for Long Strike

Hollywood Writers Expected to Settle In for Long Strike

Hollywood writers went on strike this week to demand higher pay and job security. The labor¹ action forced an immediate² suspension of late-night television shows and other programs and projects.

The writers' labor action is the first Hollywood strike in 15 years.

The union Writers Guild³ of America (WGA) is seeking higher minimum pay, more writers per show and less exclusivity on single projects, among other demands. The 11,500-member Guild argues that all the demands concern conditions that have worsened since the huge growth in streaming media.

"Everything's changed, but the money has changed in the wrong direction," said Kelly Galuska. The 39-year-old is a writer for The Bear, an FX show and Big Mouth, a program on Netflix. She was among striking workers who demonstrated at Fox Studios in Los Angeles. "It's a turning point in the industry right now. And if we don't get back to even, we never will," she said.

The last Hollywood strike, from the same union in 2007 and 2008, took three months to settle. There are no talks planned between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP. It represents studios and production companies that employ the writers.

"We'll stay out as long as it takes," said Josh Gad⁴. He is a writer for shows including Central Park and an actor in films including Frozen. Gad spoke⁵ from the Fox picket⁶ line.

An AMPTP statement said the organization presented an offer with "generous increases in compensation for writers." It said leaders were also prepared to improve the offer but were put off, it said, "because of the magnitude of other proposals" the WGA was presenting.

The writers expected to go on strike. Negotiations⁷ over a new contract ended suddenly hours before the time limit passed for an agreement to be reached. The reality of a strike left some people surprised, some worried, and some determined⁸.

"When I saw the refusals to counter and the refusing to even negotiate by the AMPTP, I was like on fire to get out here and stand up for what we deserve," said Jonterri Gadson. She is a writer whose credits include A Black Lady Sketch⁹ Show. On a picket line at Amazon Studios, she held a sign that said, "I hate it here."

New productions of top late-night shows were cancelled. That is because the striking writers are the ones who write jokes for the shows' hosts. Instead, television chiefs made plans for reruns for the rest of the week.

NBC's comedy show, Saturday Night Live, which had been set to broadcast a new program Saturday, will air a rerun instead. The two remaining programs in the season might be cancelled.

The strike's effect on weekly series and films will likely take longer to see.

If the strike continues through the summer, plans for autumn television programming could be affected¹⁰. Right now, shows for which the writing has been completed are permitted to continue with production.

Streaming has led to an explosion in the number of series and film productions made each year. That has meant more jobs for writers. But writers say they make less money under insecure conditions. The WGA described the new environment as "a gig economy inside a union workforce¹¹."

Economic activity involving temporary or freelance work is often called a gig economy.

The AMPTP said terms necessary to reach a deal involve so-called mini rooms. Industry publications say mini rooms are similar to temporary writing jobs that can prevent writers from taking other jobs. Writers want a minimum number of them. How long employment contracts last is another issue being negotiated.

Writers are also seeking more rules about the use of artificial intelligence.

Words in This Story

minimum – adj. to lowest possible number or amount

exclusivity – n. the state of being limited in number, amount or use

streaming – n. a service for television shows and movies that is available continuously over the internet

studio –n. a company that makes movies and television shows

picket line –n. a group of people who are on strike and who form a barrier in front of their place of work to bring attention to their cause

generous –adj. providing more than the amount that is needed

compensation –n. pay and other benefits for working

magnitude –n. the size or seriousness of something

determined –adj. willing to work hard to get what you want

comedy –n. a kind of show that is meant to make people laugh

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 guild   

n.行会，同业公会，协会

参考例句：

• He used to be a member of the Writers' Guild of America.他曾是美国作家协会的一员。
• You had better incorporate the firm into your guild.你最好把这个公司并入你的行业协会。

4 gad   

n.闲逛；v.闲逛

参考例句：

• He is always on the gad.他老是闲荡作乐。
• Let it go back into the gloaming and gad with a lot of longing.就让它回到暮色中，满怀憧憬地游荡吧。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 picket   

n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫

参考例句：

• They marched to the factory and formed a picket.他们向工厂前进,并组成了纠察队。
• Some of the union members did not want to picket.工会的一些会员不想担任罢工纠察员。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

11 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。