Deadline’s Strike Talk Podcast
Episode 8: Billy Ray talks with members of the WGA Negotiating Committee about where things stand 50+ days into the strike.
Episode 8: Billy Ray talks with members of the WGA Negotiating Committee about where things stand 50+ days into the strike.
Throughout the duration of the Writers Guild Strike, Deadline is running a weekly podcast called Strike Talk. This week’s episode is hosted by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Billy Ray. Via Deadline about Episode 8:
This week, host Billy Ray holds court with The Black List principal and former studio exec Franklin Leonard and three members of the current WGA Negotiating Committee in Yahlin Chang, Danielle Sanchez-Witzel and John August. There is no wavering in their resolve to make a strong deal but also give writers a chance to continue a healthy creative ecosystem by addressing AI, mini-rooms and minimums.
They reveal some compelling information. Ray laments that when he was a member of the negotiating committee how disappointed he and his cohorts were to learn that 33% of membership was making the minimum; that figure is now 50%, he said. They also continue to wonder why disruptive companies like Netflix won’t discuss cutting the writers in for part of the extra revenue it is reaping after veering into a more traditional lane when it began selling advertising to boost its revenues.
August makes the point that although surpassing 50 days is unnerving, it has become commonplace for writers once accustomed to working year-round now finding themselves going more than 50 days between jobs.
Previous podcast episodes in the series:
I strongly recommend you add Deadline Strike Talk to your podcast list and listen to it every week.
Twitter: @BillyRay5229, @DEADLINE.
For the latest updates on the strike and news resources, go here.