Title: Hollywood Strike Causes Disruption in Film and Television Industry
Date: August 23, 2023
The ongoing strike in Hollywood has brought attention to long-standing issues that should have been addressed years ago. The new contracts between unions have been negotiated every three years, but fundamental problems have remained unresolved, focusing mainly on practical matters. The strike has also been influenced by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emigration of Czech actor Krej to the United States in 1987.
Actress Susan Sarandon accurately characterized the situation, supporting the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union. Sarandon stated, “We are operating under an outdated contract in a time when a new business model has emerged, which is not working for the majority of people.” She specifically referred to the issue of residuals, which have significantly changed with the rise of streaming services.
Streaming platforms refuse to disclose viewership numbers, raising concerns about the functioning of artificial intelligence and the use of actors’ 3D scans without their consent or compensation.
Currently, there is no law in the United States that mandates these companies to disclose their data and analytics. They choose not to do so as it would reveal valuable information for their marketing strategies. Krej explains, ”The television business has completely changed. The system of producing, investing, and selling content worldwide has collapsed, and with it, the residuals.”
Krej believes that residuals will eventually increase, but it will take time. Streaming services like Netflix, despite their popularity, continue to operate at a loss.
The strike has garnered attention from actor and producer Steven Wishnoff, who honked his car horn in support of the striking actors and screenwriters in Hollywood.
Actress Kimiko Glenn, known for her role in “Orange is the New Black,” publicly spoke about her experience with Netflix. Despite the show’s success, she received a meager sum of 600 Czech koruna for the broadcast of 44 episodes. These numbers seem insignificant considering the high cost of living in Los Angeles and the expenses associated with agents and managers.
Krej suggests that over time, solutions will be found to address the relationship between major studios and individual producers. However, for now, they are not willing to exacerbate the situation.
Another issue arising from the strike is the halt in film incentives. Prague Studios, which has produced films and series such as “Wanted,” “Carnival Row,” “Van Helsing,” and “Red Tails” over the past 25 years, had to suspend the production of the series “Foundation” for Apple TV. “Foundation” is the largest production ever realized in the Czech Republic, with a budget of 1.5 billion Czech koruna, relying on Czech film incentives. Unfortunately, due to the strike, the project remains unrealized, causing a significant loss of potential opportunities.
The Czech Republic allocated 1.4 billion Czech koruna for film incentives this year. However, the system is currently closed. Minister of Culture Martin Baxa has acknowledged that some projects will not be able to proceed due to the strike. This situation prevents other projects from accessing the funds. The Ministry promises to rectify the situation promptly, but progress has been slow. Negotiations are underway to establish new rules that would allow the program to reopen.
According to Prague Studios, the impact of the Hollywood strike may be felt by audiences for the next five years or even longer. Projects such as “The Last of Us,” ”Stranger Things,” ”Andor,” “Rok draka,” and potential sequels to “Spider-Man,” “Paddington,” and ”Gladiator” are at risk of being delayed.
In an interview with iDNES.cz, Tom Krej discussed the differences between working and living in the United States and the Czech Republic, the competitiveness of European film incentives, and the future of the industry.Title: Hollywood Strike Causes Disruption in Prague Studios and Raises Concerns for the Industry
Date: August 23, 2023
The ongoing strike in Hollywood has become a hot topic of discussion, but it is not a recent development. These accumulated problems should have been addressed years ago. New contracts between unions are negotiated every three years, but fundamental issues have remained unresolved, with discussions primarily focusing on practical matters. The impact of the strike has also been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Actress Susan Sarandon accurately characterized the situation when she voiced her support for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). “We are operating under an outdated contract in a time when a new business model has emerged, which is not working for the majority of people,” she stated. Sarandon specifically referred to the changing landscape of royalties due to the rise of streaming services.
Streaming platforms have refused to disclose viewership numbers, raising concerns about the functioning of artificial intelligence and the use of actors’ 3D scans without their consent or compensation. Currently, there is no law in the United States that mandates these companies to publish their data and analytics, so they choose not to do so. This lack of transparency hampers marketing strategies and further complicates the issue.
According to industry insiders, the television business has undergone a complete transformation. The traditional model of producing, investing, and selling content worldwide has collapsed. Streaming services, including Netflix, despite their popularity, continue to operate at a loss. However, experts believe that royalties will eventually increase, although it may take time.
The impact of the strike is not limited to Hollywood alone. Prague Studios, which has produced notable films and series such as “Wanted,” “Carnival Row,” “Van Helsing,” and “Red Tails” over the past 25 years, has been forced to halt the production of the series “Foundation” for Apple TV. “Foundation” is the largest production ever realized in the Czech Republic, with a budget of over one billion Czech crowns. However, due to the strike and other factors, the project remains in limbo.
The Czech Republic has allocated 1.4 billion Czech crowns for film incentives this year. However, the system is currently closed, preventing projects from accessing these funds. The Ministry of Culture has acknowledged the issue and promises to rectify the situation promptly. Negotiations are underway to establish new rules that would reopen the program.
The impact of the Hollywood strike is expected to be felt by audiences for the next five years or even longer. Highly anticipated sequels and projects such as ”The Last of Us,” “Stranger Things,” “Andor,” “Spider-Man,” “Paddington 3,” and the debated sequel to “Gladiator” may face delays or uncertainties.
In an interview with iDNES.cz, Tom Krej, a prominent figure in the industry, discussed the differences between working and living in the United States and the Czech Republic, the competitiveness of European film incentives, and the future of the industry.
As the strike continues, the film and television industry faces significant challenges, with repercussions felt globally. The resolution of these issues is crucial for the industry’s stability and the livelihoods of those involved.
What are the potential long-term impacts of the Hollywood strike on major production companies like Prague Studios and their ability to access film incentives in the Czech Republic
As a result, the strike has brought to light the need for updated contracts and solutions to address the relationship between major studios and individual producers. However, for now, these parties are not willing to worsen the situation.
The strike has also halted film incentives in Prague Studios, one of the major production companies in the Czech Republic. This has affected projects such as “Foundation,” which was set to be the largest production ever realized in the country but had to be put on hold due to the strike. The Czech Republic had allocated a significant amount of funds for film incentives, but the strike has prevented other projects from accessing these funds.
The impact of the Hollywood strike may be felt by audiences for the next five years or even longer, with projects like “The Last of Us,” “Stranger Things,” “Andor,” “Rok draka,” and potential sequels to “Spider-Man,” “Paddington,” and “Gladiator” at risk of being delayed.
In an interview, Tom Krej, a Czech actor and producer, discussed the differences between working and living in the United States and the Czech Republic, the competitiveness of European film incentives, and the future of the industry.
Overall, the Hollywood strike in the film and television industry has caused disruption and raised concerns about important issues that have long been ignored. It has exposed the need for updated contracts, transparency from streaming platforms, and the impact on production companies like Prague Studios. The consequences of this strike may be felt for years to come, impacting both the industry and audiences globally.
