Trading picket signs for pens

The writer’s strike ends as new regulations commence

Nov 16, 2023

On Tuesday, May 2 at 12:01 am, the Writers Guild of America called for a strike for the first time since 2007 due to the changes advanced AI has made to the industry.

Every three years, the Writers Guild meets to negotiate terms for the next sector of years. This year, the decisions were expected to be a fight. There have been massive changes to the industry in the past three years due to the advancement of AI, and the terms of the 2023 negotiation were not up to the Guild’s standards.

Graphic made in Canva by August Moss. ““This wasn’t the first time I’ve experienced a writer’s strike. There was one a few years ago when I lived in California, it was really bad for my family then. We were living in my grand parents house on a suitcase, it was all four of us in one room with one suitcase,” Greenstein said. (August Moss)

On Sept. 27, the WGA ended the writers’ strike for new terms to be negotiated. The new terms of the contract include higher pay, restrictions on AI and crediting, longer minimums of time for greenlight rooms and higher residual pay from streaming services.

Many students and faculty members have relations with the Trilith studios nearby. Junior Abigail Greenstein was one of the many students affected by the strike.

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“Luckily with this strike, my dad had been keeping money aside for a while just in case. My dad had [work friends] living on the streets and working in fast food. We had enough money for bare essentials. I had gotten a job so that way I could afford other things,” Greenstein said.

Now that the writer’s strike is over, work can continue as usual in Trilith Studios.

“The whole writer’s strike wasn’t as bad as it could have been,” Greenstein said.

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About the Contributor

August Moss, Staff

August Moss is a first year Trail staffer and in her second year on the Legend yearbook staff, this year operating as senior editor. Moss is a Georgia REACH scholar. She served in the McIntosh theater department as stage manager for “Something Funny Happened On the Way to the Regional One Act Competition” and “Mamma Mia.” She served on crew for “She Kills Monsters” and “Footloose.” She acted in “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Very Still and Hard to See.” She was a Thespian Officer for the 2022-2023 school year. She was a volunteer member with the SAYA program for 2020-2021. She has served as a Sources Of Strength member since 2021 and this year she is a leader on the leadership team. Moss has many passions, but her faith trumps them all. You’ll find her singing in her church's worship band, serving in the children's ministry and always carries her bible full of notes with her.