Title: Hollywood Writers and Actors Fear the Rise of Robots Threatening Their Jobs
The entertainment industry is currently facing a fear that is gripping professionals across various fields: the imminent threat of robots taking over their jobs. From Hollywood writers to actors, everyone is feeling the pressure of technological advancements and their potential impact on their livelihoods.
As someone who has experienced the industry firsthand, I understand the anxieties that come with the digital revolution. Back in the 2000s, when I was an actor starring in sitcoms for major networks, there were already whispers of a technological revolution that could disrupt the traditional business models of entertainment.
Platforms like YouTube emerged as game-changers, granting access to massive audiences without the need for auditions or relying on networks and studios to create stars. This exciting yet unnerving time felt like we were on the edge of a beach, awaiting the crashing waves that could potentially wash away the industry as we knew it.
Now, fast forward to present day, and the aftermath of this technological tsunami is evident. Streaming services like Netflix have revolutionized content creation, distribution, and consumption, significantly impacting the income of writers who have seen their compensation dwindle and residual pay disappear.
The predictions and warnings from my early days in Hollywood have proven to be prophetic. The industry has been shaken to its core, with repercussions stretching from West Hollywood to Wall Street.
Writers in film and television claim to have been the hardest hit by the transformation of their industry. This sentiment has led thousands of them to take to the picket lines in Los Angeles and New York, as the Writers Guild of America initiated a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing the Hollywood studios and streaming platforms.
The strike may receive reinforcements from actors on July 12, as they also express concerns about wages and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. The ongoing strike has already disrupted numerous shows and films, leaving many professionals without work.
The shared grievances of writers and actors, alongside their respective guilds, highlight their fight for protections that would benefit workers from all corners of the industry.
The underlying fear that unites the entire Hollywood community is the encroachment of robots and AI on their jobs. This may seem like an exaggeration, but the truth is that technology’s influence has permeated nearly every industry, with Hollywood taking center stage in this ongoing conflict while workers across various fields grapple with the possibility of AI rendering their jobs obsolete.
In Hollywood, the rise of streaming services acted as a harbinger of change. Previously non-existent or nascent platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ have now become dominant forces in the entertainment industry landscape.
However, many argue that the distribution of rewards by streaming services has been unequal, leaving behind the writers and performers who generate revenue, win awards, and captivate audiences.
Frustrated writers have taken to picket lines demanding that industry leaders like Ted Sarandos of Netflix and Bob Iger of Disney address their concerns and fix the inequities. The signs carried by writers during the strike embody their sentiments, with one boldly stating, Hey, Netflix! You broke it — now fix it!
Even if writers do achieve certain victories to secure their creative processes and professional stability, the disruptive nature of technology in entertainment will persist. Wall Street and Big Tech are already eyeing the potential for profit from this ongoing revolution.
Investors are fascinated by startups utilizing algorithms to predict box office hits even before they are produced. Studios are digitally altering voices and using virtual technology to bring deceased stars back to life on screen. Meanwhile, creators have amassed wealth and massive followings through platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which are vital components of the booming creator economy predicted by Goldman Sachs to be worth nearly half a trillion dollars in four years.
For actors, the growing competition for a limited number of roles is a significant concern. In a post-COVID era of global connectivity, they find themselves competing against individuals from around the world who can submit self-tapes to casting directors.
The convergence of streaming technology, residuals affected by streaming services, inflation impacting wages, the rise of AI, and the new era of virtual auditions have compounded the challenges faced by actors in the industry.
While the writers may achieve some short-term victories, the wave of change will keep advancing, leaving more people vulnerable in its wake. Many aspiring professionals hoping to break into the industry are now unemployed, and as entertainment companies cut costs and appease shareholders, job opportunities have become scarce.
I recently explored the impact of the Hollywood writers’ strike on hopeful industry newcomers, speaking to aspiring entertainment workers who fear the need to leave the country if they can’t secure jobs and extend their visas. They described the anxiety of diminishing bank accounts, soaring debts, and even resorting to applying for food stamps during the strike.
We’re all looking to get back to what we love to do, said Zayd Dohrn, a WGA strike captain in Chicago and director of an MFA program at Northwestern University. He emphasized that the writers’ fight is about securing long-term gains that will benefit everyone in Hollywood, including those young professionals who currently feel trapped.
While the pain caused by the strike may eventually subside, the waves of change forewarned during my acting days have crashed ashore with full force. The industry must confront the harsh reality: none of the factors leading to the strike will simply fade away.
Ultimately, the resolution of this labor dispute will be a battle of wills between artists and creators on one side and powerful corporations leveraging technology on the other. However, it appears that all the ingredients for a dramatic — if slightly dystopian — movie plot about the clash between showbiz and the machines are already in place.
One thing is clear: Hollywood writers will be the perfect candidates to tell that story.
