The authors acknowledge that creating a studio would be a complex and risky undertaking, but argue that it could serve as a model for equitable labor action in the face of increasing economic inequality and corporate greed. They suggest various potential sources of funding, including outside investors and for-profit subsidiaries, and propose checks on executive pay and profit-sharing arrangements to ensure the studio remains true to its founding purpose. They conclude by calling on today's screenwriters to lead the way in writing a better script for the future of labor.
Key takeaways:
- The article discusses the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA against film and television studios, suggesting that the reluctance to upset the status quo may be preventing Hollywood workers from securing their futures.
- The authors propose the idea of screenwriters creating their own studio, a concept that has historical precedent and could help to stabilize employment, resist the harmful use of AI in Hollywood, and improve the quality of television shows and films.
- While acknowledging the immense challenges and risks involved in such an undertaking, the authors argue that a screenwriter-owned studio could serve as a model for equitable labor action in the face of increasing economic inequality and corporate greed.
- The article also highlights the recent revival of organized labor in the United States, with a 2022 poll indicating that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, a significant increase from 48% a little over a decade ago.