The Screenwriters Union and Hollywood Studios reached a four-year tentative agreement April 5 as reported by the Associated Press. Though the arrangement was largely confined to Hollywood, it represents many shifts relevant to Wisconsin Filmmakers.
While the exact terms of the agreement have yet to be clarified, they generally involve prioritizing writers’ wishes, like stronger health plans and protection against artificial intelligence, according to the Associated Press. Compared to previous agreements, this year’s agreement went by rather smoothly and without much contention, the article said.
The Badger Herald spoke with Michael Graf, a Wisconsin-based filmmaker, and Emily Laskowski, a senior intending to enter the film industry, about the implications of this deal within Wisconsin and its film industry more generally.
The current deal is tied to the 2023 writers strike, which was caused by writers feeling they received less pay than they deserved for their television work, Laskowski said. An important aspect of the deal is the provision that writers will receive a pay raise if a television show they work on becomes significantly popular, according to Laskowski.
Network producers have also begun producing spin-offs instead of television series with multiple seasons due to requirements that television writers be paid more the longer a series goes on, Laskowski said. There are similar loopholes that prevent screenwriters from earning as much as they deserve, according to Laskowski.
“The broader issue is the greed in the industry,” Laskowski said.
Part of the reticence to go on strike stems from the rapidly-changing state of the film industry, as well as the overall damage the industry has suffered over the past seven to eight years, according to Graf.
“Between strikes, and fires in Southern California and the Pandemic, nobody wants to go on strike anymore,” Graf said.
While the agreement in Hollywood has no immediately direct impact on Wisconsin filmmakers, as most members of the Screenwriters Union live in California, it sets a precedent for future agreements with producers, Graf said.
A tangible consequence of the deal in Wisconsin is how, with the writer’s strike lifted, more television series will go to Wisconsin for filming than prior, Laskowski said. A major draw of Wisconsin as a film-making location is its relative affordability when it comes to filming, and Milwaukee in particular has become a hotspot for production, according to Laskowski.
“This agreement is really good for Wisconsin,” Laskowski said.
Last year, the Badger Herald reported on the Wisconsin Screenwriter’s Symposium, which Graf attended. During this symposium, multiple speakers discussed the state government of Wisconsin’s investment in growing the state’s film industry.
Though progress is gradual, there is room for optimism in growing Wisconsin’s film industry, according to Graf. Part of this optimism is thanks to the first-ever government film office in the state’s history, a moderate incentive package passed by the state legislature, and encouraged coordination between the government and filmmakers, Graf said.
“Everyone’s very excited about [the incentive package] … it’s a good first step,” Graf said.
Still, Wisconsin’s incentive package of around $5 million pales in comparison to other states, such as Texas which recently passed a $550 million incentive package, according to Graf.
A major issue across most creative industries is the role of generative AI, which has been accused of plagiarizing author’s works as well as posing job security risks to writers. While AI tools can be helpful during post-production processes, they have little to no positive place in the writing phase of film production, according to Graf.
“It’s high-tech plagiarism,” Graf said.
While generative AI is unfair to many in the industry and has a litany of negative effects, there is little reason to believe it will disappear from the industry, Laskowski said. While many screenwriters and directors disapprove of AI, network executives are more likely to favor it and continue to use it to cut costs, according to Laskowski.
Laskowski personally disapproves of AI in the filmmaking industry, she said. Much like the Screenwriter’s Union, Laskowski believes that generative AI strips the human aspect of storytelling and prevents screenwriters from sharing their artistic voices.
“In the long run, [AI] could really cripple the industry,” Laskowski said.
The film industry is of course nebulous, even in smaller states like Wisconsin. Something aspiring filmmakers may not be aware of is the rise of vertical shorts, which are very short, vertically-directed bits of content often found on social media, Laskowski said.
Though vertical filmmaking is fairly niche, it is becoming more and more popular and could be a viable avenue for new filmmakers to explore, she said. Aspiring filmmakers should also be aware that, while large film production is still far-off in Wisconsin, there is increasing room for independent filmmaking in the state, according to Graf.
“It’ll have a really good boost for the current generation of filmmakers,” Graf said.
