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California Screenwriters Continue Strike Costing Hollywood Millions Daily
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Screenwriters Strike – Bagdasaryan
HEAD: California Screenwriters Continue Strike Costing Hollywood Millions Daily
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 06/xx/2023
BYLINE: Angelina Bagdasaryan
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Los Angeles
VIDEOGRAPHER: Vazgen Varzhabetian
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, Reuters;
SCRIPT EDITORS: Enochs, Ide
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:22
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
((EDS NOTES:
PLEASE RETURN TO ANNA RICE AND COPY TO HFR WHEN DONE))
((INTRO ))
[[A screenwriters' strike in Hollywood has been going on for two months, grinding scripted TV production basically to a halt and costing California millions in losses each day. Angelina Bagdasaryan has more in this story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
Since early May, screenwriters in Hollywood have been a daily sight outside movie studios from 10 am to 2 pm, signs in hand and demanding better pay.
Hollywood screenwriter Stuart Beattie who wrote scripts for the Pirates of the Caribbean and I, Frankenstein says his life was thrown off course – and instead of writing scripts, he is now busy protesting daily, fighting for his rights.
((Stuart Beattie, Screenwriter))
“None of us wanted to be here, we all would much rather be telling stories, but we’ve been forced to come out here by the studios.”
((NARRATION))
Beattie took his son – a future screenwriter as well – to the strike with him. During the last series of strikes back in 2007, the two went together as well.
((Stuart Beattie, Screenwriter))
“In 2007 I had my son with me; he was much smaller then, now he’s much bigger, so that’s the difference. But back in 2007 I had to explain to people why we were striking – people didn’t understand, some were even angry at us for striking.”
((NATS)) ((Cars honking))
((NARRATION))
That 2007 strike, according to the Milken Institute, cost California roughly 2 billion dollars. This strike, according to the Writers Guild, is costing California and Hollywood about 30 million dollars a day in lost revenue.
California’s small businesses are suffering too. Milt & Edie’s dry cleaners is in a tough spot as well. Before the strike, General Manager Robert Shapiro says many major studios would come to take care of costumes.
((Robert Shapiro, Milt & Edie’s General Manager))
“We’ve definitely seen a downturn in our entertainment business, primarily because a lot of the shows have stopped filming, and as a result we’re seeing a lot less stylists and costumers come in.”
((NARRATION))
Restaurant and makeup artists are losing money as well, so are hairdressers, florists, decorators and electricians.
For now, there’s no sign how long the strike could last. No talks between the studios and writers are scheduled and there’s a chance members of the Screen Actors Guild could go on strike too. Their contract expires Friday.
((For Angelina Bagdasaryan in Los Angeles, California, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media