The writers’ strike in Hollywood could threaten the production of series and films if it were to continue. Filming that must take place in Quebec could even be delayed or even canceled if the labor dispute is not resolved quickly.
“We anticipate a slowdown, or postponement of work, particularly for the post-production, visual effects and animation sectors; maybe even some shoots whose scripts weren’t written in time to shoot. Everything will depend on the duration of the strike, ”said the Office of Cinema and Television of Quebec (BCTQ).
For now, the scriptwriters’ strike has had no effect on the few American shoots that are currently taking place in Quebec. The texts had already been finalized long before. On the other hand, we know that the vast majority of American productions arrive in Montreal in the summer. If the labor dispute stretched south of the border, Quebec could suffer.
Foreign filming is less numerous than it was, while the markets of Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg are increasingly competitive. But the fact remains that half of the 55,000 jobs in the Quebec audiovisual industry are linked to foreign productions, almost entirely American series and films. Hence the concern of the BCTQ at the risk that the strike will drag on.
Several issues raised
The approximately 11,500 screenwriters represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike last Tuesday. Already, the effects are being felt on the television industry in the United States. The late-night talk shows, the famous “late shows”, were interrupted for lack of writers.
The negotiations between the WGA and the major studios stumbled on several points. The screenwriters are calling for higher pay and better job security. According to their union, their situation has become precarious with the advent of digital platforms, which prefer productions with fewer episodes and spanning fewer seasons.
According to the magazine variety, a writer-producer works 35 to 40 weeks in traditional television for a minimum wage of just under US$260,000. On the platforms however, the duration of a project is somewhere between 20 and 24 weeks for a minimum salary of less than $150,000.
The AMPTP, which represents the major studios, counters that the demands of screenwriters are unattainable, while the major platforms are experiencing financial difficulties. Another element of discord between the two parties: artificial intelligence. The screenwriters ask for guarantees that the AI is not used to replace authors.
No strike in Quebec
SARTEC, the union of authors in Quebec for television and cinema, is following the labor dispute in the United States very closely. Certain questions raised by American screenwriters, such as the arrival of artificial intelligence, obviously have an echo here too. That said, the audiovisual reality in Quebec is completely different from that of Hollywood.
With us, for example, the screenwriters have not seen the duration of their contracts change. Indeed, most Quebec productions are not only designed for platforms, but also for broadcast on traditional television. The number of episodes therefore remains the same.
Even if the members of SARTEC have been without a collective agreement in television since August 2019, a strike has never been considered. “We are fighting for better significant fees. With inflation, some members are unable to make a living from their art, despite a frantic workload. But negotiations are progressing. We are close to an agreement. Could one day there be a strike in Quebec like the one in the United States? It’s not completely impossible, but it’s never been discussed,” says SARTEC Director General Pauline Halpern.
The last writers’ strike in Hollywood dates back to 2007-2008. It had lasted more than three months, which had delayed or shortened certain productions.