In May 2023, striking writers formed picket lines in front of Paramount Pictures studio in Los Angeles. This strike, which started the previous year, lasted for 146 days. The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached a settlement in late September. The writers demanded higher pay rates, better residuals for streaming shows, and regulations on using artificial intelligence in scripting.
More than half a year after the strike ended, industry reporters noted continuing struggles among writers. A significant contraction in the industry has affected production and employment levels, with a noticeable 20.5% drop in film production activities in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the five-year average. Additionally, an overall production decrease was observed globally. Reasons cited for the industry downturn include unsustainable increases in production during the streaming wars and corporate consolidation, reducing opportunities for pitching new projects.
The impact has been particularly pronounced among writers from underrepresented groups, with fewer production opportunities affecting their employment significantly. Some writers have resorted to alternate sources of income, such as flipping furniture or dog grooming. As the industry looks for a recovery path, there's a cautious optimism that the recent contractual gains might eventually offset some of the negative impacts caused by the sector's decline.