Andrew Schulz, comedian and host of The Brilliantly Dumb Show, took to Twitter this past Friday to explain why the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strikes could lead to devastating consequences for mainstream Hollywood.
Schulz started by attesting to the fact that the actors and writers wanted fair residual payments from streaming services but that in order to develop a metric for those payments, streaming services must first release the data on how many people are watching their shows.
While Schulz believes that the streaming services are refusing to share the viewership numbers because no one is watching, he suspects that if the real viewership numbers are released, it could tank the stock prices of the streaming companies.
“So SAG and the WGA may have absolutely screwed themselves and their industry by fighting for key metrics on actual streaming viewership,” he said.
If it turns out that the streaming services do have a significant number of viewers, the additional money they’ll have to pay out to actors would also mean a drastic cut-back on shows. “If the actors and directors strike is successful by making the streamers release their real viewership… The strike will essentially force the streamers to hire less actors and directors. So they’re striking themselves out of work,” he concluded.
The Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America have yet to make a response to Schulz’s statement, but several industry experts have expressed agreement with his analysis.
“Schulz brings up an important point,” says Hollywood insider Nathan Kenner. “If the viewership numbers are low, the streaming services may be forced to drastically cut back on their workforce in order to save money. This could be catastrophic for the entertainment industry.”
Some are suggesting that streaming services should overlook their financial concerns, for the benefit of actors and writers.
“The streaming services need to put creative content ahead of financial concerns,” says Oscar-winning director Quentin Tarantino. “Everyone in Hollywood should have the chance to make a living and reap the rewards of their hard work or else there won’t be enough high-quality content for the world to enjoy.”
Whether or not the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America will take Andrew Schulz’s message to heart is still to be seen, but it’s clear that something needs to be done to protect Hollywood in dark times like these.
5) If the actors and directors strike is successful by making the streamers release their real viewership…
The strike will essentially force the streamers to hire less actors and directors.
So they’re striking themselves out of work.
Just a hunch tho 🤷♂️
— Andrew Schulz 👑HEZI (@andrewschulz) July 21, 2023