I Told ChatGPT To Write This Episode (And It Sucked)

This week I'm talking about the Writers Guild of America strike, and how streaming and AI are leaving writers without fair compensation for their work. I go into the history of labor rights in Hollywood (including the Academy Awards' unlikely origin story), why creative professions are often subject to exploitation, and whether making it in Hollywood is truly the American Dream - or a mere myth. 

Digressions include a brief mention of my own history acting in Hollywood, the unfortunate reason Donald Trump got so much airtime in 2007, and a debate over fandoms: toxic or empowering?

 

Sources:

Opinion | Can the Writers’ Strike Fix Hollywood? - The New York Times

Strike Rules FAQ

Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) Overview | Writers Guild of America, East.

Hollywood Directors Reach Deal With Studios as Writers’ Strike Continues - The New York Times 

The Luddites of Hollywood - The Atlantic

With Hollywood on strike, foreign shows enjoy the limelight - The Economist

Why Hollywood writers' strike won't end soon. Here are six sticking points

When Will the Writers Strike End? Three Scenarios, From Fantasy to Hellish Dystopia | Vanity Fair

SAG-AFTRA Contract Talks Officially Begin Following “Astounding” Strike-Authorization Vote

The 2023 WGA Strike for Dummies

Inside the writers' 'guerrilla tactics' to shut down live productions

Writers on strike talk pay, family and the future of TV - Los Angeles Times

Actors Authorize Potential Strike With Hollywood Writers Still Picketing - The New York Times

The WGA strike is part of a recurring pattern when technology changes

A.O. Scott Says Goodbye to Film Criticism - The New York Times