Canadians hit by the US writers’ strike

The US writers’ strike began more than a month ago — a fight for better wages, AI protection, and job security — as streaming services revolutionized the industry.

“Screenwriters’ ability to make a living is under threat,” Alex Levine, president of the Writers Guild of Canada, told CTV National News. A lot of the series they’re producing have smaller orders, six or eight episodes, and that’s allowed them to really hone in on writers and get more work out of fewer writers.

His group, along with production crews and actors, are in solidarity this week and are holding their own protests. While the strike is causing huge production delays in the US, it is also having a direct impact on Hollywood North.

“They hire our crews, they use our locations, and that work stops,” says Levine.

Unions estimate that tens of thousands of people are on the sidelines. That includes everyone from actors and producers to makeup artists and craft services. People who work on shows like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” and the Netflix series “The Craving.”

While the strike began in May, many began to feel the pinch long before that.

“The slowdown started much earlier, productions were unwilling to commit to production in a period of uncertainty, and without the ability to make rewrites and changes,” said Matt Williams, a key grip working out of Vancouver. Williams worked his last full-time gig in March and says some others have been out of work since January.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) represents 34,000 people in Canada. They work behind the scenes for functions such as lighting, grip, construction, makeup and wardrobe. Across the country, IATSE estimates its members have lost millions of dollars in wages — about $13 million in Halifax and Montreal, $36 million in Toronto and it says BC’s loss is “incalculable” because it is so large.

“British Columbia is probably the hardest hit. Much of the production of foreign services in the US takes place in British Columbia, so they’ve been affected,” said John Lewis, VP of IATSE and director of Canadian affairs. “Right now we would be shooting anywhere from 30 to 40 productions based in the US. By July we won’t have any going to camera in British Columbia. That’s unheard of.”

Film and television production in Canada contributed $13.73 billion to the country’s GDP last year, with $7.58 billion in foreign investment in manufacturing. As the weeks go by, there are fears that the industry, which has just recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, will take a major hit. And it could get worse. Some shows are still filming, but as they finish, the crews will be out of work.

“Nothing is getting started, nothing is starting, so[it has]a dramatic, significant impact on our members, but also on the entire industry,” said Lewis.

And as production schedules move into the next season, that puts even more pressure on crews.

“It’s not just the summer season, but it’s about the availability of actors, creative talent. They have specific timelines and when they’re available to shoot, and that all plays into it,” added Lewis.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which represents actors in the US, is also currently negotiating, so if that union decides to join the picket line, it will abruptly end all filming involving US actors – possibly the next big blow to the industry.

Members of the Writers Guild of Canada and their supporters gather outside the office building for both Amazon and Apple for a rally in support of American screenwriters, in downtown Toronto, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana MartinThe Writers Guild of Canada will begin negotiations in the fall, the organization is currently looking at the scenario unfolding in the US

“We hope there is a mutually satisfactory real solution to these issues. How the WGA handles this can help us get to the negotiating table and also find a fair deal for our membership,” Levine said.

Meanwhile, film and TV crew members in Canada are hoping for the best as they head into a usually busy summer.

“It’s very hard to see a period of time where things pick up again,” said Williams, who currently has no steady employment in Vancouver.