I didn’t think I would need to make a post like this, but I had been thinking about it for some time now. On May 2nd of this year, the Writers Guild of America went on strike. On July 14th, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artist joined the writers on the picket lines. It’s the first time in 43 years that both unions have gone on strike at the same time.
Writers and actors are fighting for different issues, but some are the same. Two major reasons for the halt of labor that they share are artificial intelligence and compensation from streaming services. Studios feel A.I. will be able to write screenplays/scripts and potentially replace actors/background actors. Many writers and actors fail to see high residual checks from streaming, even though the studios are banking off the success. Most people think that every WGA and SAG-AFTRA members have endless amounts of money, but that isn’t the case at all. A-Listers do see money coming frequently while others don’t. They struggle to live. At the same time CEOs make over millions in bonuses from streaming. It’s such a ridiculous statement to think studios don’t have enough money to pay their workers fairly. It’s ridiculous to think A.I. will be able to replace the magic that writers and actors put on a screen. I love the entertainment industry deeply. Storytelling is my escape. I support writers and actors. I’ll be sad to see films and TV shows pushed back, but I rather wait a long period of time for projects than witnessing workers poorly compensated for their work. During these times, actors are not allowed to promote their films, attend film festivals, have promotion on social media, or do any off-camera work. They’re also encouraged not to attend conventions. As these writers and actors continue to walk the picket lines, please feel free to donate if you can. Here are some places you can donate to:
The Union Solidarity Coalition
With the WGA and the SAG-AFTRA on strike, I believe it’s best not to discuss Secret Invasion or any more television or film until the strike comes to an end. I don’t get paid to write about shows, movies, or comics. I write about them because I enjoy doing it. With that being said, I love movies and television, so I’ll stand in solidarity with writers and actors. I’ll continue to post about comic books. I think that is the best way to continue this newsletter for now. I’ll be working out of town, so it will give me plenty of time to read more comics. I’m also going to GalaxyCon in Raleigh, which could be a nice experience to share on here.
Hello there! I’m happy you took the time out of your day to read my post. Remember, if you have any questions or want to have a discussion, leave a comment! Till next time comic folks! Happy days and take care!