A recent survey of television and film professionals in the UK has shed light on the ongoing impact of the Hollywood strikes, with over half of respondents still without work one year later. According to Bectu, the media and entertainment union, the current “drought” in available projects has led to a record number of workers considering leaving the industry.
The survey, which polled over 2,300 individuals, revealed that 52% of respondents are currently unemployed, with only 6% reporting a return to normal levels of work. Additionally, 38% stated that they plan to leave the sector within the next five years. These findings come on the first anniversary of actors joining writers in the US on strike, which brought much of Hollywood to a standstill. The resulting production halts also affected award ceremonies and movie premieres.
While the strikes did not occur in the UK, the country’s creative industries were heavily impacted by the ripple effects. This is due to the significant reliance of Hollywood productions on British studios and staff. The dispute, which centered around issues such as pay from streaming services and unauthorized use of images through artificial intelligence (AI), was resolved in the autumn after unions SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America reached new agreements with industry leaders.
However, according to Philippa Childs, head of Bectu, the UK’s entertainment industry has yet to fully recover. She states, “The film and TV workforce has already faced incredible and unprecedented hardships throughout and following the pandemic and have now been hit by a second crisis that shows little signs of abating.” Childs also emphasizes the need for collective action to improve the situation for workers, who are crucial to the success of the sector but continue to bear the brunt of industry changes.
The union also quoted a producer, who wished to remain anonymous, who shared, “I have never struggled to find work like this in 25 years. I’ve had nothing at all in 7 months. I feel used and discarded.” Another respondent, an editor, added, “The worst part is [there is] no communication on future outlook. No idea if the industry is permanently changed or the issue is temporary.”
Financial difficulties have also been a major challenge for industry workers, with four in five of those surveyed reporting financial strain as a result of the current work climate. The survey also found that individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds and those with disabilities were more likely to be unemployed.
Ms. Childs notes that Bectu has been in regular discussions with UK broadcasters and other stakeholders to address these issues. She adds, “Our findings speak for themselves – if the industry doesn’t take tangible and collective action soon, we will see a huge skills exodus and a further deterioration in industry diversity, alongside prolonged mental health challenges and debilitating financial difficulties.”
Last year, industry workers, including actors Brian Cox, Simon Pegg, and Andy Serkis, held a rally in London in solidarity with their US counterparts. Those in attendance expressed that the issues at the heart of the Hollywood strikes are of concern for industry workers worldwide.
