The outlook is "
confirming itself day by day
", according to the
New York Times
.
On April 17, nearly 98% of the members of the Syndicate its American screenwriters “
authorized their leaders to go on strike
” to obtain wage increases, reports
Variety
, relayed by
Courrier International
.
The profession, which is often poorly paid, is demanding an increase in wages commensurate with the good economic health of the sector.
The first stages of negotiations have not been fruitful for the union, which is brandishing the threat of a general strike.
The screenwriters will have to decide on May 1, the expiry date of the framework contracts which bind the screenwriters' union to the association of film and television producers.
Read alsoYoung screenwriters and young directors torn between TV, cinema and platforms
For its part, the studios are getting into battle order and preparing to short-circuit the social movement.
“
In recent weeks, Hollywood has begun to prepare for the strike.
Studio executives have pre-ordered scripts and are gearing up to produce a flood of reality TV series, which don't require the services of screenwriters,”
reports
The New York Times
.
Stagnant wages, flourishing sector
The claims are not new: screenwriters, poor relatives of the Hollywood economy, are asking for better working conditions and a clear increase in their salaries.
“Compensation has stagnated over the past decade
,” details
The New York Times
.
At the same time, the platforms and their revenues have exploded, bringing with them an exponential growth in the number of series produced.
However, the triggering of a strike movement is not certain.
Unions and studios still have a few days to find common ground.
In 2017, the screenwriters threatened to strike for the same reasons and an agreement was reached at the last minute.
Because everyone in Hollywood keeps the memory of the social movement of 2007-2008 which made the studios give in.
At the time, reports
The Hollywood Reporter
, this 100-day strike paralyzed the entire industry and caused the loss of $2.1 billion for all California studios.