Late last week, the effects of the Writers Guild of America strike action began to take their toll, with the entertainment industry paying close attention to the fallout. If you aren’t familiar with what’s happening, there is an article from GQ that explains the situation quite well. Not only have some late-night talk shows already shut down, but now some of our favorite movies and TV shows are already starting to feel the burn of their creative backbone’s absence.
“Pre-production on ‘BLADE’ starring Mahershala Ali has shut down due to the writer’s strike. The film was set to start filming in Atlanta next month. Marvel Studios plan to restart production when the strike is done.” Posted one Twitter user after seeing the news from THR.
Disney, ABC, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Max (HBO Max) have been reaching out to their showrunners, attempting to persuade them to continue working in all non-writing capacities. Some have even gone so far as to sight their contractually obligated duties in a bid to keep production afloat.
The letter from the legal department of ABC Signature, owned by Disney, reads: “We want specifically to reiterate to you as a showrunner or other writer-producer that you are not excused from performing your duties as a showrunner and/or producer on your series as a result of the WGA strike. Your personal services agreement with [the] Studio requires that you perform your showrunner and/or producing duties even if the WGA attempts to fine you for performing such services during the strike,” wrote Bob McPhail, the assistant chief counsel for the Disney-owned ABC Signature, in the letter sent to showrunners and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “Your duties as a showrunner and/or producer are not excused, suspended or terminated until and unless you are so notified in writing by the Studio.”
Over the weekend, another show was added to the list of those affected by the action. Deadline reported, “Disney Channel’s longest-running live-action comedy series Bunk’d is the latest casualty of the WGA strike. Production on Season 7 of the hit series has been halted due to the writers strike, Deadline has confirmed”.
The strike action began on May 2nd and already has major studios scrambling to keep production on track. We will bring you more details as they arise.
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