Top Story- Writers Guild Strike has Crippled the US Entertainment Industry. Let's decode their concerns

Hello Readers,

Welcome to Leeds1888, your definitive guide to all things important in the world of media and entertainment. I'm Vipul, and in this issue, I'll be taking a deep dive into the ongoing strike of the Writers Guild of America. This particular strike has garnered support from who's who of the global movie and entertainment industry, and I'll be highlighting the major issues raised by the WGA.

While it's not uncommon for cinema industries across the globe to witness such escalations and strikes, this one is getting a lot more attention for some new and challenging reasons. One of which is the rebellion against the onslaught of AI tools in creative writing.

But that's not all. In this issue, you'll find information about the shows ruling the OTT platforms this week, the latest box office collection report, and, of course, no issue would be complete without the news buzz and an interesting story, this time about 12 angry men - one of the most highly-rated movies on IMDb, often considered as one of the greatest.

So, sit back, relax, and grab a cup of coffee as this issue is guaranteed to keep you glued until the very end.

To begin with, a quick round up on weekly collections of top Indian and International movies

Story of the Week

The American Writers Guild is on strike over issues related to modern streaming and content development tools. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the issues and discuss about Indian writers in this context.

The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike of 2023 has brought the entire US film production industry to a standstill, as the WGA ( Writers Guild of America) and the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) remain at loggerheads over several critical issues. One major issue raised by the WGA is the absence of a minimum wage assurance for writers who work on OTT platforms. This issue has been compounded by a drop in viewership and residual competition, leading to OTT platforms bargaining hard with writers and offering lower upfront payments and residual compensation. As a result, writers are demanding a minimum upfront payout to compensate for the low residuals they may receive in the future.

Another significant demand made by the WGA is to stop the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to create, rewrite scripts, or train AI using original material. They argue that the use of AI tools could replace human writers, leading to an existential crisis for them. The WGA wants to ensure that literary work remains in human hands and is not taken over by AI.

Now let's decode each of these points.

The WGA is demanding that there should be a minimum wage fixed for OTT platform writing also. Now to understand the issue we need to first see how the OTT platforms compensate the writers.

OTT platforms compensate a writer in two or more parts as listed in The table

Here is Leeds1888 guide to understanding the difference between the terms Royalty and Residual payouts.

Now as viewership declines, so does the competition for residuals. This puts writers in a vulnerable position, especially when there's no minimum wage guarantee. In such situations, OTT platforms tend to drive a hard bargain, offering writers low upfront payments along with residual compensation clauses. This often results in a significant decrease in the writers' overall income compared to what they used to make before the introduction of residuals.

To combat this issue, the writers are demanding a minimum upfront payout guarantee to ensure that they're compensated adequately for any potential drop in residual values in the future.

Interestingly, when we compare American and Indian OTT platforms, there's a stark difference in the compensation offered to writers. Here is how they stack against each other.

In USA

In INDIA

The Writers Guild of America has made a second demand that has caught the attention of the entertainment industry. They are calling for an immediate halt to the use of AI tools like chatGPT to create or rewrite scripts. The writers fear that such tools could potentially harm their careers by replacing them altogether.

Interestingly, the producers association, studios, and even the OTT platforms have voiced their support for the writers' concerns. They agree that AI tools should only be limited to improving visualisations and minor editing. However, it remains to be seen how long this stance will hold, and whether AI tools will eventually infiltrate the screenwriting industry.

Only time will tell how this demand will play out and how AI tools will affect the screenwriting industry in the long run. But for now, the writers are standing their ground and fighting for their place in the industry.

Indian Context

As we follow the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America, it's imperative to take a moment to reflect on the status of Indian screenwriters. As depicted in the table above, the compensation gap between Indian and American writers is staggering. However, what's even more alarming is that India doesn't have a collective body that represents or amplifies the concerns of screenwriters.

From disputes over intellectual property ownership to fair compensation structures, due credits, and retirement benefits, there are several issues that Indian screenwriters are facing that still need to be addressed. On top of these existing problems, we have artificial intelligence tools that are increasingly replacing content writers.

It's high time that Indian studios and production houses start adequately compensating screenwriters, not just with a better fixed payout but also with a share of the profits. This will result in better content creation and quality shows and movies, which is lacking in the Indian entertainment industry.

Additionally, there should be more associations and bodies in India that collectively represent writers, along with other stakeholders in the industry. Mugafi.com is taking steps towards creating a body that will work towards the collective representation of screenwriters and address their concerns. It's crucial that we take these steps to ensure that Indian screenwriters receive the respect and compensation they deserve.

This Week’s Most Watched Shows & Movies on Global OTT platforms

For this week, I recommend watching Roma on Netflix, as it offers cinematic characterisations that are worth your attention. IMDb Rating- 7.7

Buzz in the Media Industry

• A new film hub called the "Fantastic Pavilion" will be introduced at this year's Cannes Film Festival, featuring a focus on a new genre. Several movies will be screened there, including the British comedy "The Bystanders," the Spanish film "While the Masters Sleep," and the Filipino action film "Trigger." Read more on https://variety.com/2023/film/festivals/fantastic-pavilion-ted-raimi-monica-lozano-1235607324/ 

• The MTV Movie and TV Awards just wrapped up on Sunday, May 7th. Among the scripted content, "Top Gun: Maverick" stood out and received the most nominations, joining forces with beloved TV shows like "Stranger Things," "The Last of Us," "The White Lotus," and "Wednesday". Read more on https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/07/entertainment/mtv-movie-tv-awards-2023-winners/index.html

Pearls from the Past

Considered a cinematic masterpiece by many, "12 Angry Men" is one of the highest-rated movies on IMDb, with an all-time rating of 9/10. Shot almost entirely at one location, the director used clever camera angles to create a sense of claustrophobia and tension throughout the film. The cameras start positioned above eye level, making the room appear spacious, but move down to eye-level as the story progresses, ultimately showcasing most jury members in close-ups from lower angles. In 2007, the Library of Congress recognized the film's cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance by preserving it in the United States National Film Registry. Interestingly, this was the only movie ever produced by actor Henry Fonda, who also starred in it.

Well, that’s all in this issue of Leeds 1888, thanks for reading.

See you again next week!

Take care,

Vipul.