It is no secret that the bright lights of Hollywood have been dim these past few months. On Sept. 27, the Writers Guild of America’s (WGA) astounding five-month strike finally came to an end, with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) continuing to hit the bricks. WGA union leaders approved an agreement made with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) after months of conflict and negotiation over a new three-year contract for members of the guild.
Although resolutions have finally been reached between Hollywood higher-ups and their workers about pay and general working conditions, my apprehension about the situation remains. I can’t help but think about the potential future of the film and entertainment industry that artists were forced to consider for the duration of the strike. The low value at which these major studios have revealed themselves to hold each employee is detrimental to the number of opportunities available in an industry that is already notoriously hard to break into, and the authenticity of its products.
The whole strike was a matter of frugality on behalf of major motion picture studios. The most notable issue for students to be concerned about was the downsizing of production teams by the business tycoons at the forefront of each studio. With the goal to save and earn as much money as possible, they essentially cut as many people as they could during the on-set process of creative projects—replacing them with computer generated systems such as artificial intelligence (AI). The first to go were those who make hourly wages as opposed to contractually negotiated ones—interns and “below-the-line crew members,” which refers to boom operators, hair and makeup artists, gaffers, script supervisors, etc.
Writers and their teams were also being removed from sets, as it is now believed that their job is complete once the script is solidified and shooting had begun. Studios are even giving into the phenomenon of “background shows.” This refers to the use of AI to write simple, mindless television plots for the purpose of putting on while viewers scroll on their phones or do other tasks.
For my entire journey in the arts as a child, and now as a double major in theatre and film studies, I have been told that succeeding in an industry as cutthroat and full of ambition and talent as this one is all about an eagerness to learn— through hands-on experience as well as studying the craft. The entertainment industry has essentially created a self-destructive system in that hands-on experience is a crucial qualification for a job, and yet the opportunities to obtain this kind of work are disappearing before our very eyes. It is discouraging to say the least. I am afraid that no matter how hard I work, I am now beating a dead horse. I am afraid that I will have to reluctantly leave my passions behind for the sake of my livelihood.
I spoke with Sean Schofield, Ph.D., of the Muhlenberg Career Center, and had an enlightening conversation on the value of experience; he believes that it will never be lost entirely. In fact, he even spoke about using negative experiences such as these to our advantage, encouraging concerned students in the arts to “connect with people in the industry, especially Muhlenberg alumni.” We talked about the value of passing on knowledge through talking about experience as a way for students to “build resilience” as they overcome a rapidly changing industry. By talking to people who are actively trying to navigate this issue, we can gauge how to prepare for what may come our way when we graduate.
I also think it is important to continue to get student-made and independent art out into the world. People are attracted to what they can relate to. When we lose sight of self-expression, and the telling of personal stories through film and television, art loses its authenticity. There is beauty in the fact that there is a piece of myself in every film that I make, and every script that I write. Each and every story that I touch upon resonates with a defining factor of my life. Submitting to film festivals, hosting screenings and even utilizing the Internet as a way to push the narrative that our experiences and projects are beautiful and here to stay will reinforce the importance of the collaboration of individual talents on a collaborative piece
My main takeaway from the last few months is that it is important to remember in a time like this that art, in all of its forms, is a reflection of humanity. In the arts, people come together and form a community driven by creativity and passion when they work on set together. Collaborative artworks are artifacts of human connection, and with the new industry model, we are essentially erasing this from our future history.
