This time last year, the 100-day Writers Strike ended, everyone returned to work, and Hollywood moved cautiously forward. In all, the WGA strike cost somewhere between $2-2.5 billion (just as the nation was headed into recession), and an actors' strike is still in the cards.
So what have we learned in hindsight?
At the very least, I think we learned that "digital content" should rightly be called "content." Hulu has become an online powerhouse, Netflix has had (modest) success with digital rentals and download-to-own features, and cable companies and TV networks are fighting to the death over rights to distribute cable content online.
That said, no one is actually sure how to value any of this online content, which is the real problem. Of course, writers (and all talent) deserve their share of revenues generated online. And of course producers must be able to recoup their costs before distributing profit shares in order for consumers to have the same production quality we've come to expect. But even a year later, no one knows what the actual accounting figures should be to satisfy both parties' concerns.
In this sense, the resolution of the writers strike was a push – producers gave up only modest increases in the accounting calculation and the WGA gained jurisdiction over digital content deals. Otherwise, the real fight has been delayed in the face of uncertain future.
Especially given how significantly the digital market has grown and the DVD market has contracted (in response?) the last few years, to strike a "fair" contract for the next 3+ year term requires a duty of prevision beyond reasonable expectations. Aggressive bargaining in the face of uncertainty creates a zero-sum game between the participants. Producers and talent are making a 50-50 bet it won't hurt them, but no matter who zeros out, the consumers – us – will suffer.
Finally, we learned that labor's resolve is not to be underestimated. Whether the strike was right or wrong or the gains large or small, the three-month strike took unity, strength, and calm under pressure. No small task, indeed: these are life-goals many of us aspire to.
Overall, the final lines of "Burn After Reading" sum it up nicely:
CIA Superior: What did we learn, Palmer?
Palmer: I don't know, sir.
CIA Superior: I don't [expletive] know either. I guess we learned not to do it again.
Palmer: Yes, sir.
CIA Superior: I'm [expletive] if I know what we did.
Palmer: Yes, sir, it's, uh, hard to say.
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