View source for Writers Guild of America Strike

==2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes==
On May 2, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). They were joined on July 14, 2023, by the actors' union the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).  
<br><br>
The WGA had last struck negotiating difficulties with the AMPTP that led to the strike in 2007/08. One of the main issues at the time was residuals from DVDs, and also what was then referred to as "new media" - shows distribution via the internet which was in its infancy. Since that time new media had come to dominate the industry and there had been significant changes in the employment structure for writers. Residuals from streaming are close to zero for writers [https://deadline.com/2023/08/supernatural-eric-kripke-interview-picket-line-writers-strike-residuals-writers-room-1235533157/ In an interview with Deadline]. Eric Kripke revealed that he had received nothing from the broadcast of Supernatural on Netflix despite it being incredibly successful for the streamer. <br><br>
In addition the writers wanted a change to their employment structure, which had shifted considerably with a dismantling of the writers room model, and an increasing amount of work being required form writers for decreased pay. This also coincided with a shift to shorter episodes per season for most shows - 8-12 being much more common than the old broadcast run of 20-23 episodes. This meant a further decrease in writers remuneration. 
The impact of reduced income for writers, and actors, is that many find it difficult to make the minimum required to be eligible for health insurance. <br><br>
A longer term concern of the change in industry structure - TV writing has now almost become part of the gig economy. This takes away the opportunity for writers to learn from working in a writers' room not only from more senior writers, but also to learn the job of being a showrunner. Notably few shows now have the writers on set during filming, where they can learn about all aspects of production. (Interestingly ''Supernatural'' never had this practice). <br><br> 
The breakdown of the writing career path in TV both stops writers advancing in their learning and career, and also means people with little experience end up as show runners. Income becomes lower, and unpredictable.This particularly disadvantages writers who are not from wealthy backgrounds, and so often disproportionately further excludes not only working class, but often other marginalized groups as well. <br><br>
Finally, both actors and writers are concerned about the impact of A.I. on their jobs.
<br><br>
===Supernatural Picket Reunion===
While many Supernatural writers and actors have been regularly on the picket lines, on Thursday 31 August a reunion picket was organised and fans invited to attend. Coordinated by @TheGreenCooler, [https://twitter.com/TheGreenCooler/status/1697404685097803777 Fans raised over $1000 dollars] to support the picket line [https://twitter.com/TheGreenCooler/status/1697326509713748193 with snacks], and also donated to the Entertainment Community Fund. [https://deadline.com/2023/08/supernatural-eric-kripke-interview-picket-line-writers-strike-residuals-writers-room-1235533157/ Kripke praised the fan support] saying "The Supernatural fandom is a majestic and terrifying force...I have to say, I sort of expected this madness, but it doesn’t change how insane it is.” 

* [https://deadline.com/2023/08/supernatural-eric-kripke-interview-picket-line-writers-strike-residuals-writers-room-1235533157/ Interview with Eric Kripke] on the strike by Deadline.

Posts from the reunion picket:
* [https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1697320329364775108 Group photo of Supernatural writers and actors] by Deadline
* [https://twitter.com/PadaleckiHarvey/status/1697328151972688026 Video of the group photo] by PadaleckiHarvey
* [https://twitter.com/DEADLINE/status/1697320933327806872 Meg Donnelly and Drake Rodger] by Deadline
* [https://www.threads.net/@misha/post/CwoUYwkrVGJ/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D Misha post]
* [https://twitter.com/DWNpodcast/status/1696711218889728415 Rob and Ruth talk about why they are striking]
* [https://twitter.com/RobBenedict/status/1697330628570788204 Group photo] by Rob Benedict
* [https://twitter.com/AustinBasis/status/1697380759068357073 Photos from Ghostfacer] Austin Basis
* [https://twitter.com/SPNthenandnow/status/1697385586427101373 Photo including the SPN Then and Now podcast team and Todd Stashwick]
* [https://twitter.com/feliciaday/status/1697357861221970273 Video from Felicia Day]
* [https://twitter.com/spacekicker/status/1697355131300499950 Photos from Jeremy Adams]
* [https://twitter.com/JaxDallas/status/1697301121604399465 The Winchesters cast] by JaxDallas
* [https://twitter.com/jwmanzano/status/1697501777275584906 Photos from the picket line] by [[Jose Manzano]]
* [https://twitter.com/sebroche/status/1697451629757505732 Photos by Sebastian Roche]
* [https://twitter.com/ChadLindberg/status/1697364924278984899 Photos by Chad Lindberg]
* [https://www.karenborterphotography.com/supernatural-wb-strike-event-2023 Photos by Karen Borter]
* [https://twitter.com/GenPadalecki/status/1697355231451857075 Jared and Gen showing support from Austin]

===Support those impacted by the strike===
* [https://entertainmentcommunity.org/ Donate to the Entertainment Community Fund] 
* [https://twitter.com/chessmorse/status/1653878048159309824 Buy a pizza for the writers] via Jess Morse
* [https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/the-snacklist-support-striking-workers Donate to buy food for the writers] via Democratic Socialists of America.

===WGA Strike Over===
On 27 September the Writers Guild of America strike is over, [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/26/hollywood-writers-strike-ends-studio-deal with a tenative deal struke with AMPTP]. The WGA won [https://www.wgacontract2023.org/the-campaign/summary-of-the-2023-wga-mba all the key concessions] it had wanted including including residual payments for steaming shows, greater transparency on audience numbers for streaming platforms, minimum numbers of writers for pre-development “mini rooms”, and guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence. 

===Links 2023===
* [https://archive.is/prJVr Why are TV writers so miserable?] from the New Yorker
* [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-05-03/writers-strike-wga-hollywood-labor-amptp-netflix Why Hollywood writers strike won’t end soon] from LA Times 
* [https://jacobin.com/2023/05/writers-strike-wga-amptp-streaming-pay/ TV Writers Say They’re Striking to Stop the Destruction of Their Profession] via Jacobin
* [https://deadline.com/2023/05/writers-strike-disabled-writers-income-loss-support-inevitable-foundation-survey-1235355509/ Disabled Writers Face Potential Loss Of $2M In Earnings During WGA Strike] via deadline 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Writers_Guild_of_America_strike 2023 WGA Strike]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_SAG-AFTRA_strike 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike]
* [https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/08/09/hollywood-writers-strike-heres-a-timeline-of-what-led-to-the-100-day-mark/?sh=5c90c21b7ad3 The first 100 days of the WGA strike]

==2007 WGA Strike ==
[[File:Writers-strike.jpg|300px|right|thumb]]
On November 5, 2007, writers for film and TV Shows, including “Supernatural”, began a strike after the breakdown of negotiations between the union and AMPTP - the association representing more than 350 production companies and studios which employ them. The strike continued for over two months. As it went on it became unclear as to whether some series would return to complete their season or even return at all. Fandom throughout was anxious, but very supportive of the writers' cause, including organising petitions and fundraisers. When the strike was resolved, Supernatural ended up with a shortened season of 16 episodes, rather than the scheduled 22. 

The main issues in dispute concerned payment (“residuals”) to writers arising from the distribution of film and TV in new media areas including DVD and the Internet. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/playbill/20071107/en_playbill/112511 Playbill].

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk This short video] provides an easy to understand explanation of what the WGA were asking for.

When the strike commenced, episodes up until [[3.12 Jus in Bello]] were written for Supernatural, and shooting continued on them until the Christmas break. Jensen mentioned at [[Salute to Supernatural L.A. 2008]] that while Kripke still had input as a producer, he couldn't make any changes to the scripts or comment on it from a writers' point of view, which Jensen joked meant he could do what he liked!

Originally [[3.11 Mystery Spot]], which was shot first, was to air after [[3.12 Jus in Bello]]. Kripke said "It's such a big episode for us. And [[Phil Sgriccia]], who directed some of our best episodes... he's directing this episode and it's just has an epic sweep to it. It's really on point with the demon mythology that we said we should slug this last and use it as a jerry-rigged season climax, in case we don't come back this season." [http://www.tv.com/tv.com-qanda-more-supernatural-talk-with-eric-kripke/story/10777.html Source] 

At [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-n0R6pGNjk the Nerd HQ] panel at [[Comic Con 2011]], Jared described how that Mystery Spot was originally considered to be an episode they could end the season on, or even the series with a possible movie to tie up the story.  

The strike finished on February 12th 2008. Four more episodes were written for ''Supernatural'' making a shortened season of sixteen episodes. 

Kripke has discussed that the major effect on the plot arcs, was that the final episodes focused on the approach of Dean's deal deadline. [[Bela]]'s story arc was also truncated. Kripke said of the main arc "We didn't have time to tell the story about Sam's powers and all that had to move to season 4. In the original versions we were thinking of before the strike, Sam was going to save Dean, and in typical Supernatural fashion, it was going to cost the boys dearly. But because we didn't have the time to develop Sam's powers there wasn't really anybody left to save Dean, so Dean had to go to Hell.     

He continued; "Yes, we were going to save Dean, maybe even before the Season finale, but at the cost that Sam was now this fully operational dark force. Then Sam wants to make an assault on Lilith and he's working on his powers, and that's a big problem with Dean. So we get to end up roughly in the same place we were going to end up anyway, it's just instead of at the end of Season 3, it's later." (Source:[[Supernatural: Official Magazine]] Issue 8)

On March 3 2008, for the first time [http://au.tv.ign.com/articles/856/856388p1.html Supernatural's renewal for the next season was confirmed] before the season ended. 

===Interviews and posts ===
* [http://community.livejournal.com/supernatural_tv/1258071.html Sera Gamble comments on the strike]; [http://veryhotjews.blogspot.com/ Updates on Sera's blog]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/supernatural_tv/1281201.html yumenoko meets Eric Kripke (report)]
* [http://www.supernaturalscoop.com/2008/01/supernatural-producer-ben-edlund-at-joss-whedons-mutant-enemy-picket-day/ Ben Edlund on the strike]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100101040903/http://www.tv.com:80/tv.com-qanda-more-supernatural-talk-with-eric-kripke/story/10777.html?print=1&action=print&tag=actions; Kripke talking about the effect of the strike] before he knew if or when they'd resume with tv.com on Jan 30, 2008.

For details of what Jared and Jensen did during the extended hiatus check out the [[Supernatural Scrapbook Jan-June 2008]].

===Fandom Support===
* [http://unitedfandom.com/ United Fandom]
* [http://www.fans4writers.com/forum/index.php fans4writers.com] - a multi-fandom site, that is linking fans with coordinated efforts to support the writers.
* [http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/11/pencils2mediamoguls.html Pencils2MediaMoguls]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/supernatural_tv/1259106.html Please Do Feed The Writers - Supernatural Fans Support for the Striking Writers]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/ Fans support the WGA strike]

===Timeline of the strike and Impact on Season 3===
[[File:Edlundstrike.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Edlund at the picket line]]
* As the strike began Supernatural has 10-12 episodes completed; roughly five scripts that are ready to shoot. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/business/la-striketvgrid-html,0,1749384.htmlstory?coll=la-home-center La Times]
Trade publications state that fans view the strike as "as a bunch of rich people fighting over billions of dollars. They just want their shows to stay on; they don't care who gets what." [http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/91638.html Source]

* A new campaign,[http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/11/pencils2mediamoguls.html Pencils2MediaMoguls], was commenced to demonstrate that fans support for the writers. Inspired by the [http://www.nutsonline.com/jericho Jericho peanut campaign] it involves sending boxes of pencils ''en masse'' to the studio and network bosses. (Fans of the show Jericho sent 20 tons of nuts to CBS as show of support for the show when it was cancelled, resulting in it belong renewed for a limited season]

* On November 19th, media reports that Supernatural will be shutting down December, 5th. ([http://firefox.org/news/articles/893/1/Production-on-Supernatural-Shutting-Down-Dec-5/Page1.html Source])

*After resuming negotiations on 26th November, negotiations again broke down on December 7. [http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/145437.html Source]

* December 29, [http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/12/wga-letter-to-members-about-worldwide.html the WGA] have announced that they have made a deal with Worldwide Pants, the production company owned by Letterman, which produces both his and Craig Ferguson's shows. The deal includes the rights/residuals pertaining to new media that the WGA have been after, and which the AMPTP have refused to consider. This follows the WGA announcing it was willing to deal with individual production companies. Some see it as breaking the collective effect of everyone being on strike, and that it's unfair that some writers will return to getting paid while most don't.  Others see that it demonstrates that the conditions being sought are affordable, although a show like Letterman is probably affected less by new media (such as internet DLs or streaming) than scripted TV.

* December 31 [http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2008/01/fans4writers-rose-parade-update.html fans4writers.com] organise skywriters to print messages of support for writers in the sky above the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena.

* At the beginning of January, 2008 AMPTP still had not agreed to resume negotiations. 

* January 3. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_en_tv/hollywood_labor_awards_shows Through an] agreement with the [http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2699 Screen Actors Guild], actors agree not to cross WGA picket lines to attend the Golden Globe Awards

* January 4. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978521.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562 Variety announces] upcoming network programming revised due to the strike. Supernatural has four episodes remaining to air (3.09-3.12), which will recommence on January 31st. After that the following has been reported for the CW schedule:

:On Thursdays, "Smallville" will continue at 8 p.m., while a handful of remaining original "Reaper" segs will run at 9 p.m. starting Feb. 28.

:"We're giving 'Reaper' a few Thursday airings, which means for the first time a real compatible lead-in for the show, from 'Smallville,'" Kahl said.

: Not in the mix: "Supernatural," which goes on hiatus, but will return at some point; and family drama "Life is Wild," which isn't expected to return. On the reality side, "Crowned" ends its run at the start of February; other shows, including "Farmer Takes a Wife," are still waiting in the wings.

* [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978523.html?categoryid=10&cs=1 Variety] announces the WGA and film studio United Artists are to make a deal allowing film writers to return to work.

* [http://www.tv.com/supernatural/show/30144/story/10682.html?tag=story_list;title;0# Eric Kripke] in an interview with tv.com talks about the effect of the strike on the Supernatural team.

* January 18. [http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2008/01/amptp-asks-for-informal-talks.html Following the deal made by the Directors’ Guild, the AMPTP has asked that ‘informal’ talks resume with the WGA]

* January 2008: Sweet Charity runs "A Very Special Sweet Charity" - fans auction their writing, vidding, art and craft talents and raise over $19,000 to support of those affected by the writer's strike. 

* January 23, 2008: The WGA and AMPTP reneter negotiations, under a media blackout.

* January 30, 2008: [http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=3b54133f-b803-478c-8feb-0d6f0f044f60 E!Online] interviews Eric Kripke who says:
: "If the strike ends by mid-February, we could probably still gear up and get two or three episodes done. If it ends tomorrow, which it won't, we could do three or four. With any luck, the strike will be over in time for us to bang out a couple more."

* February 2, 2008:
While the media blackout on negotiations is still in force, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/business/media/02cnd-writers.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin The New York  Times] credits 'unamed sources' with indicating that major hurdles have been overcomes between the WGA and AMPTP and that a resolution could be reached as early as next week.

* February 6, 2008. [http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-announces-member-meetings-for-saturday/ WGA Negotiating Chair John Bowman] writes to the membership 'major hurdles' have been overcome in negotiations. A later letter advises that terms of an agreement will be presented to the WGA membership on February 9th.

* February 12, 2008. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117980829.html?categoryid=10&cs=1 WGA membership votes 92.5% in favor of ending the strike].

* February 12, 2008. [http://www.variety.com/VR1117980756.html The CW would like another 5-6 episodes of Supernatural]. No confirmation on how many will be produced, or when they will air. later confirmed as an additional 4 episodes. 

* March 3, 2008: Driven by the strike, [http://au.tv.ign.com/articles/856/856388p1.html the CW] announces an early renewal for Supernatural for Season 4.

===Links 2007===
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932008_Writers_Guild_of_America_strike Wikipedia entry on the strike]
* [http://www.petitiononline.com/WGA/petition.html here].
* [http://unitedfandom.com/ United Fandom]
* [http://www.fans4writers.com/forum/index.php fans4writers.com] is a multi-fandom site, that is linking fans with coordinated efforts to support the writers.
* [http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/11/pencils2mediamoguls.html Pencils2MediaMoguls]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/supernatural_tv/1258071.html Sera Gamble comments on the strike]; [http://veryhotjews.blogspot.com/ Updates on Sera's blog]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/supernatural_tv/1259106.html Please Do Feed The Writers - Supernatural Fans Support for the Striking Writers]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/ Fans support the WGA strike]
* [http://whedonesque.com/comments/14650#195659 Joss Whedon on being a striking writer]
* [http://www.wga.org Writers Guild of America]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/supernatural_tv/1281201.html yumenoko meets Eric Kripke (report)]
* [http://www.supernaturalscoop.com/2008/01/supernatural-producer-ben-edlund-at-joss-whedons-mutant-enemy-picket-day/ Ben Edlund on the strike]
[[Category:Production]][[Category:Cast & Crew]]