Dual strikes bring Hollywood to a screeching halt

In today’s Big Story podcast, last week, after negotiations with studios and streaming giants failed to yield an agreement, the 160,000 performers represented by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) decided to go on strike. They’re joined on the picket lines by Writers Guild of America members — the first time both unions have been on strike simultaneously since the 1960s.

Both groups’ demands differ, but their main grievances boil down to two things: revenue decreases in the age of streaming and concern about AI-induced job losses. With their collective actions bringing many major productions to a screeching halt and leaving thousands of people out of work, the pressure is on both sides to come up with a reasonable compromise.

Barry Hertz, deputy arts editor and film editor for The Globe and Mail, says the strike’s impact is already being felt within the Canadian film industry.

“Projects that are funded by the Hollywood studios and streamers come up to Canada to produce their material. And in doing so, employ Canadian crews, creatives, like cinematographers, set designers, costumers, etc. So all those productions immediately shut down,” says Hertz.

So, what’s really at stake here? And who might blink first?

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