Hollywood is bracing for a possible string of talent strikes, including the Screen Actors and Writers Guilds, who are out to secure more revenues from DVD sales and ancillary sources. The last time such strikes loomed, back in 2001, they were averted at the last minute. However, in the lead-up a bunch of bad (worse than usual, I mean) movies had already been made. A repeat of that situation is the industry’s biggest nightmare this time around.
June 30 of 2008 is when the Screen Actors contract expires, meaning films must start production by around March 1st to be finished in time. Meanwhile, the Writers contract is up on Oct 31. (Post-production work on already shot projects will continue during any strike.)
As such, studios, actors, directors, etc., are rushing films into production in order to have product in the pipe should a long production shutdown develop. This means that films that otherwise wouldn’t get made will be, and that since the movies will be made in a hurry, they won’t get vetted as much as usual. Of course, considering what Hollywood usually does to scripts, this lack of tampering might actually work to the benefit of a movie or two.
Meanwhile, the money will flow briskly, as panic buying creates conditions allowing writers, actors and directors to gouge increasingly desparate studios. Big stars, like Matt Damon, Cameron Diaz and Jim Carrey, might well shoot another three films before the June 30th deadline.
Considering how crappy most movies are under normal circumstances, this does not bode well.
This also holds for television, so the networks are handing out commissions for the production of shows for 2008/09 season early. However, should a long strike or two occur, expect more reality TV and repeats. And while some people seem to hate reality TV on general principle (as if it’s worse than scripted TV), the fact remains that for the recent week of July 30-Aug 5th, the top three shows on the five broadcast networks were Hell’s Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, and Singing Bee. Admittedly, this was in the slow summer months, and TV ratings are *way* down for the networks in general, but still.
Other shows ready to go now will be held in reserve for a while, such as Fox’s immortal police detective series New Amsterdam.
