Suits Writer Reveals Meager Earnings from Streaming Residuals, Exposing Compensation Struggles in Hollywood
Ethan Drogin, a writer for the hit TV show Suits, has recently disclosed that despite the series’ overwhelming success on streaming platforms like Netflix and Peacock, he earned a mere $259.71 in streaming residuals. This revelation sheds light on the ongoing compensation struggles faced by writers and actors in Hollywood, which have led to strikes within the industry. It also underscores the lack of fair compensation for contributions to massively popular shows.
Despite Suits concluding its run in 2019, the show has experienced a resurgence in popularity after being added to the catalogs of Netflix and Peacock. Just last week, Suits broke its own streaming record by garnering the largest number of minutes watched for an acquired program on a streaming platform.
In a piece he wrote for the Los Angeles Times, Drogin expressed his disappointment in earning only $259.71 from the remarkable success of Suits. This amount corresponds to his work on season 1, episode 8, titled Identity Crisis. Drogin argues that such low residuals highlight the reasons behind the ongoing strikes by writers and actors in Hollywood. He also points out that the current system offers no upside for writers and actors in terms of fair compensation for their work.
While entertainment executives claim to be offering historic pay raises, even a 100% increase on a $259.71 check falls far short of meeting the cost of living for most individuals. Additionally, there is no correlation between the results and compensation in the streaming industry, despite the tremendous success of shows like Suits.
Drogin’s case mirrors the concerns raised by his fellow writers who are currently involved in strikes. One of the key points of contention is the lack of adequate streaming residuals that accurately reflect the success of their shows. As Drogin’s earnings demonstrate, residuals from streaming are often disappointingly low.
Although Suits continues to dominate on streaming platforms, with billions of minutes already watched, it appears that the writers, including Drogin, will not be able to reap the benefits of potential changes in the near future. As the strikes by writers and actors in Hollywood persist, it remains uncertain whether streaming residuals will undergo any substantial transformation. However, as creatives within the industry continue to fight for fair compensation and better regulation, changes may be on the horizon.
Unfortunately, the current landscape does not offer much hope for writers like Drogin to receive the compensation they deserve, especially as their shows reach peak popularity. While the strikes continue, it is crucial to address the issue of streaming residuals and ensure fair remuneration for the remarkable contributions made by writers and actors in the entertainment industry.
