As the writer’s strike enters its eleventh week and the Screen Actors Guild joins on the picket lines, executives in the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are pleading that they simply can’t give in to SAG/WGA demands, as it would leave them with a smaller amount of excessive wealth.
While Netflix is looking to spend a whopping $166 million this year in executive compensation, it would cost the company only $68 million to adhere to the WGA’s current contract negotiation demands. Sadly, this doesn’t take into account how shitty it would be for execs to have less money, considering money is fun and they like it a lot.
According to the WGA, eight major studio CEOs made a combined $773 million last year, which is honestly not that much when you think about how good of a job they’re doing and how the work is actually really hard. It also raises the question: If writers want more money, why don’t they just quit and do something else, like run a streaming service or network?
“If we give in to the WGA, my current $46 million might turn into a measly $45 million, or – no – even $40 million!” said one anonymous streaming service CEO. “What is that – enough for two, three weeks tops? Four? Five? I don’t know how much things cost to be honest.”
A key element of the negotiations is the structure of residuals, as writers and actors are getting pennies on the dollar from shows that live on streaming platforms. The AMPTP’s lead negotiator, Kyle Herman, countered, “The current deal absolutely adjusts for inflation as long as you close your eyes and don’t really know what inflation is.”
Members of the AMPTP argue that the writers and actors are demanding too much: “If we give writers fair residuals for programs that live on streaming platforms, what’s next?” Herman continued. “I give them my house? I give them my car? I give them my second car and also my third car? How many cars do these greedy writers need!”
The negotiations also got contentious over the subject of A.I., but by the time reporters got to that subject of conversation, the CEOs had gotten bored and retired to another room to watch Stranger Things.
At press time, AMPTP members urged the striking actors and writers to think of the destitution they will be forcing upon execs.
“It’s no use,” Herman continued. “I wouldn’t expect writers and actors to know anything about living penniless as you pursue your dreams, my dream being running a quaint, mom and pop multi-billion-dollar company.”
