Stratechery Hollywood on Strike
Jul 17, 2023
The podcast dives into the historic Hollywood Actors Union strike, the first in over four decades, highlighting the pressing pay issues shaped by technological advancements. It unpacks the complexities of calculating residuals in the streaming era and contrasts this strike with past labor movements. Detailed discussions include the tense negotiations between actors and studios over fair compensation and the evolving financial landscape of content distribution. The insights reveal the challenges amidst a competitive media environment and shifting audience engagement.
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Past Strikes
- In 1960, actors and writers went on strike together, driven by the rise of television.
- The 1980 actors' strike was about home video.
Tech Drives Unrest
- Technological shifts drive unrest between studios and talent.
- Streaming is a bigger factor than AI in the current strike.
AI and Residuals
- AI threatens writers more than actors, who can license their likeness.
- Residuals address job preservation concerns in the face of new tech.