There are no longer protesters parading through the streets of Hollywood, but the fallout from the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes is weighing heavily on the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry.
Digital, streaming and AI among the biggest concerns as Hollywood faces new strike
I'm talking about the thousands of crew members who, "below the line," operate cameras and lighting sets, design costumes, create art and props, and staff production departments, mostly working as freelancers in an industry that is increasingly in turmoil.
Recent employment figures provide a sobering insight into the state of employment in the sector after strikes.
During last year’s strikes, the industry lost more than 45,000 jobs from May to September 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September jobs report. The February 2024 report said the recovery was still relatively meager. In the U.S., the motion picture and sound recording industries added only about 3,200 jobs, while broadcasters and other content providers lost another 1,800 jobs.
