Quebec authors are closely following the fight of Hollywood screenwriters, who could soon start a strike and torpedo the production of a number of long-awaited films and series. Because despite different realities, they share many concerns.
Last week, members of the American film and television screenwriters’ union, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), voted overwhelmingly (98%) in favor of a work stoppage. Voter turnout was 79%. A record.
The agreement that unites the association with the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios (Disney, Sony, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros.), video-on-demand services (Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video) and all general interest channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) in the United States, expires on 1er may. After this date, a strike could break out at any time.
At home, the negotiations over the working conditions of American screenwriters are attracting the attention of the Canadian union of French-language screenwriters, the Society of Radio, Television and Cinema Authors (SARTEC). The discussions surrounding the reduction of writing deadlines in the United States concern the director general of the organization, Pauline Halpern, probably because she knows that they must be even tighter in Quebec.
“Today more than yesterday, authors are asked to write extremely quickly, within extremely short deadlines”, she summarizes.
This is a problem that affects our authors and which has arisen a lot in a pandemic. Each time there were health rules that changed, a rewrite was necessary, to ensure that such an actor keeps a distance of two meters from another actor, etc. It is a well-known problem.
Pauline Halpern, Director General of the Society of Radio, Television and Cinema Authors
The speed of execution required in youth production in Quebec is of particular concern to Pauline Halpern. “The mental health of the authors is really very, very important. The risk of burnout is real,” she insists.
Royalties under the magnifying glass
Other American demands resonate elsewhere than in the United States. Among them, royalties for the exploitation of works occupy a special place, especially with the recent emergence of online viewing platforms. In Canada, the Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers (SACD), responsible for negotiating, collecting and distributing screenwriters’ royalties, is closely following this hot issue.
“Currently, we have agreements with ICI Tou.tv and Club illico, and that’s it,” says Élisabeth Schlittler, the group’s general delegate in Canada. American platforms are resistant. According to them, the rights for the exploitation of works are completely incidental. They refuse to offer compensation. That’s what we fight for. »
In the United States, the WGA believes that it has not benefited from the explosion of TV series in recent years. Platforms are springing up everywhere, the number of soap operas is skyrocketing, but nothing would have changed on the side of the authors, who nevertheless create the raw material.
“The American system does not reflect the extraordinary development of the video-on-demand services sector,” explains Pauline Halpern.
How do I calculate royalties? Is the amount fixed according to the video on demand service? By duration? The number of clicks? This is a subject we are working on.
Pauline Halpern, Director General of SARTEC
Artificial intelligence and the increase in the minimum wage are also among the points that monopolize the discussions between screenwriters and producers. Again, SARTEC understands their relevance.
“Inflation is international,” observes Pauline Halpern. It affects the United States, and it is very, very present here. We are talking about 7% to 8% on average. And when we look at everyday consumer products or even rents, it is even greater. We must increase the minimum fares. »
PHOTO BY BRYAN DERBALLA, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVES
jimmy fallon anime The Tonight Show.
Endangered series
If they exercise the option of a strike, American screenwriters will paralyze Hollywood. During the last work stoppage, in 2007, the seasons of many successful series such as Lost, The Office And Big Bang Theory had been shortened. To compensate for this lack, the broadcasters had ordered a number of reality shows, a genre that does not require any script. Additionally, all of the late-night talk shows had gone into rerun mode, due to a lack of writers available to write jokes about the news. The same will happen to Tonight Show by Jimmy Fallon and others Saturday Night Livethe WGA warned in a memo released on Friday.
Could an authors’ strike eventually occur in Quebec? Yes, answers SARTEC. Indeed, the Law on the professional status of artists allows artists’ associations to take “concerted action” as part of collective agreement negotiations, but only in certain circumstances.
Furthermore, SARTEC shows its solidarity with the WGA. It invites its members to abstain from accepting a writing contract which would fall under the jurisdiction of the American union for the duration of a possible strike.
“Several of our members are bilingual and could be called upon,” explains Pauline Halpern. They are encouraged not to take any actions that could interfere with their efforts. »