Film and television production from New York to Los Angeles has been largely halted as Hollywood writers’ strike continues for the past 10 weeks. Some were almost forced to stop working due to union picketing and the crew’s refusal to cross the picket line. In some cases, showrunners have decided to stop working out of solidarity.
But even more than two months after being canceled, some outliers remain, such as the “American Horror Story” series, led by one of Hollywood’s biggest producers and showrunners, Ryan Murphy.
Last week, members of the Writers Guild of America and other union allies trained to focus on Murphy’s show, sending dozens of members to Long Island, one of several movie production sites across New York. Hours of picketing outside Silvercup Studios in City. The show continues.
Some dressed as Vikings. One was wearing a cat mask. They held up placards denouncing the “Horror Gala” and unfolding “horror show” and the studio’s red front awning to the sound of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “The Addams Family” theme songs. marched in front of
If all the picketing is fueled by dissatisfaction, Murphy is a member of the Writers Guild in addition to being the showrunner for the acclaimed and long-running anthology series, so there’s something about this production that has some personality. It had a tinge of color.
“He’s a member and it feels like it’s counterproductive to our overall mission to keep doing these things continuously,” Strike Leader T. Cooper said of Murphy.
“We just want a fair deal,” Cooper added. And the only way to get the studio to do that is to stop production.
Union members hope Murphy will follow in the footsteps of other showrunners who sympathized with their cause and canceled productions, thereby helping bring the big studios back to the negotiating table. He said he understood that it could be possible.
Mr. Murphy did not comment on why production is proceeding and could not respond to questions from Picketer and others about their concerns. Spokespeople on his list did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
Unions have done little to stir up issues with Murphy, focusing their concerns on the ongoing work being done on the show.hello Among the notable showrunners Those who donated during the strike to the Entertainment Community Fund, which provides grants to those working in film, television and other fields. Murphy is not known to have been working in a writer capacity during the strike, but union officials said he has the right to continue working as a director and producer.
In interviews, several union members said they had no animosity toward Murphy, who several years ago sought to move from Netflix to The Walt Disney Company as part of a $300 million deal. Disney owns his FX Cable his channel and is home to his ‘American Horror Story’ series, which began airing in 2011.
“We are not here to protest against a man named Ryan Murphy. We are here to protest that production is going on without a writer while the writers are on strike.” ‘ said WGA East leadership member Josh Gondelman, who was picketing. on thursday.
The Writers Guild has convened its members for a so-called horror/fantasy themed day in Queens as the writers’ strike enters its third month. The WGA’s eastern and western branches, which represent about 11,500 TV and film writers, have been embroiled in a dispute with Hollywood’s big studios over compensation and many other issues raised in the streaming era.
The Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance, which is negotiating on behalf of Hollywood companies, said its contract offer included “generous increases in the compensation of screenwriters.”
Writer and strike and picket captain Sarah Montana said union members have been picketing at least once a week since the strike began, with fewer shows and films in production. I assumed there was.
“It doesn’t end with just writing the script,” she said. “The small and big choices we make on set can change a character and change how a story unfolds. I’m going to stop the production because of something.”
“I would say that the majority of showrunners have been very united,” she added. As such, she “disappoints to see production continue”, because “it goes against the spirit of the purpose we are fighting for.”
At least three Murphy shows, the original “American Horror Story” and two spin-offs, are still in production in various parts of the New York metropolitan area, according to union members and officials. The ‘American Horror Story’ sequel has received a lot of attention, especially after Kim Kardashian tweeted in June that she was on set.
Actors may soon be on the picket line, too. The union representing about 160,000 TV and film actors, known as SAG-AFTRA, has extended contract negotiations with major Hollywood studios and streaming services until July 12. The union’s current contract was due to expire at the end of June. And although the extension provided a short respite, a scenario in which both the Actors Guild and the Writers Guild strike at the same time would effectively shut down Hollywood.
As the writers’ strike enters its third month with no end in sight, WGA East leadership member Gondelman said broadly speaking, “We’re trying to get a deal that’s fair and keeps the script for television.” It takes a big decision,” he said. He could make films as a sustainable career, but the offer was never considered. “
“I’ve never heard a single member say, ‘Maybe we should go back and accept their trash offer,'” he said.
