LA County Supervisors Push Major Studios to Negotiate Amid Ongoing Strikes
The ongoing strikes involving the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA have prompted the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to intervene. The board has decided to pen a letter to the major studios, urging them to return to negotiations with the embattled actors. This development was confirmed on Tuesday, marking the 85th day of the Writers Guild strike and the 10th day of the SAG-AFTRA strikes against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The board had previously approved a similar plea in support of writers at the onset of the Writers Guild Strike. "The people who power Los Angeles are on strike and deserve a fair deal," Supervisor Lindsey Horvath noted after the vote, which was held during the board's routine meeting.
Horvath and fellow Supervisor Hilda Solis introduced the motion to implore the AMPTP "to return to the negotiating table and end this strike by meeting a reasonable agreement" with the established 160,000-member actors union.
A second focus of concern for the board encompasses the small businesses affected by these strikes. In response, Horvath and Supervisor Kathryn Barger were prompted to push forward a motion deliberating over programs and services to sustain these small operations, while simultaneously reflecting on the economic reverberations of the strike on the employees and contractors that cater to the entertainment industry.
Owing to the maelstrom unraveling in the sector, Barger commented, "The entertainment industry strike is having a ripple effect on many mom-and-pop businesses that, through no fault of their own, are having a tough time making ends meet due to an unexpected loss of clients and revenue." An upcoming webinar will provide further information for industry workers and businesses coping with the impact of the strikes.
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And now for the popcorn section. This strikes me as a cine-noir plot in itself. The beleaguered denizens of Hollywood are called to action, not by a director behind a megaphone but by the concerned civic body, their plea underscored by an urgent, booming brass soundtrack, reminiscent of a '70s thriller.
If we're giving out roles, Horvath and Solis are clearly the passionate advocates of justice, their impassioned plea to the powerful AMPTP taking center stage. Barger, however, brings a dose of realism to the drama, shedding light on the small businesses tangentially caught in the crossfire.
Strikingly, it's not just 'The Show Must Go On' that's in jeopardy here - it's 'The Diner Must Stay Open' and 'The Dry Cleaner Needs to Pay The Bills'. This is a drama, sure, but it's a far removed from the glamorous glow of a golden age Hollywood production. It's more like a hard-hitting documentary, a gritty exploration of a town built on dreams facing the realities of finance and negotiation.
And, call me a romantic, but amid the justified hard talk and protest placards, I can't help but long for that quintessential Hollywood ending. One where the warring factions, in the spirit of true cinematic storytelling, come to an understanding, ink an agreement, and allow our beloved industry - and its fellow local businesses - to get back to their soulful, and integral work. Bravo. But for now, let's just hope the real-world curtain-call comes sooner rather than later.
