Read update
A previous version of this article attributed the comments to David Zaslav when they actually came from CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels. We have amended the following article with the correct attribution.
Warner Bros. DiscoveryCFOGunnar Wiedenfelsindicated the ongoing dual strike has saved the company around $100 million, according toVariety. The announcement came during the most recent earnings call for the company, where the executive expressed how productions shutting down across the studio allowed them to save money. By not paying actors and writers for their work, it looks like the company has the unique opportunity of keeping the money for itself, despite the fact that most of the television series and movies they had planned have stopped filming.
TheWriters Guild of Americaannounced it was going on strike around three months ago, making noise in the industry regarding how the studios don’t pay them fairly for their hard work. In an unprecedented move for a situation of the sort,SAG-AFTRAjoined their strike, turning it into a historic event. While there were attempts of bringing theDirectors Guild of Americainto the mix, that organization opted for signing a deal with the studios, leaving actors and writers on the picket lines. Even if the conflict began three months ago, it remains to be seen how much longer it will last.
Another topic at the center of the dual strike is how actors and writers are given residuals for the productions they worked on that are available on streaming platforms. Most performers received a couple of dollars, even if the titles they appeared on are becoming viral on any given catalog. In addition to how workers are not properly compensated, there’s always the possibility of studios simply removing films and shows from their platforms only to save money when paying taxes. Under CEODavid Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery prominently started that trend when they keptBatgirlfrom being released on what wasHBO Maxat that point.
When Will the Strike End?
There’s no way of knowing when the ongoing dual strike will come to an end, as there plenty of factors involved in driving it forward. The direct effect the strike is having in the industry can be felt already, with multiple movies shutting down their filming schedule due to the conflict. Even titles that have already wrapped shooting and find themselves in the post-production process are at risk of facing a delay. However, the AMPTP is ready tosit down with the WGA on Fridayto figure out the first steps towards finding a deal that could allow the dual strike to come to an end.
