For the first time since 1960, Hollywood faced simultaneous strikes by both writers and actors. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike in May 2023, followed by SAG-AFTRA in July. Together, they brought film and television production to a near-complete halt.
The central issues were pay equity in the streaming era, residuals that had failed to keep pace with the industry's shift to platforms like Netflix and HBO Max, and — critically — the threat of artificial intelligence replacing human creative work.
The AI Question
Studios had proposed using AI to generate scripts, scan actors' likenesses, and create content without ongoing compensation. Writers and actors drew a firm line. The fight over AI in creative industries became a defining labor story of the year.
The Resolution
The WGA reached a deal in September 2023. SAG-AFTRA followed in November after 118 days on the picket line — one of the longest actors' strikes in history. Both unions won significant gains on AI protections, residuals, and pay.
The strikes reminded the world that the people who make the content we love deserve to share in its value. A principle that applies everywhere.