The looming Hollywood writers strike

And why you should pay attention. vox.com/culture CULTURE   International Workers’ Day 2023 could land with a real bang this year if Hollywood writers go on strike. And just a few days out, it’s looking like it’s quite possible. Members of the Writers Guild of America still haven’t reached a deal for their next contract with the group representing some of the biggest television and film companies in the United States, and if they don’t by May 1, when their current contract expires, they could walk off the job. If your response to all of this is, “Wait, what?” you’re in luck, because [Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson has an explainer for you]( on all the details of a potential Hollywood writers strike, the last of which took place some 15 years ago. She gets into what the writers want, what’s at stake if they don’t get it, and — importantly — what happens to the shows if they do stop work in demand of a fair deal. (If you’re watching Netflix, you might not notice. If you’re looking forward to the last couple of episodes of this season of SNL, you definitely will.) [—Emily Stewart](, senior correspondent What happens if there's a Hollywood writers strike? [Striking workers outside the Tonight Show]( David McNew/Getty Images In late April, eligible members of the Writers Guild of America — the people who write the Hollywood shows and movies we watch in theaters and at home — [voted to authorize]( a strike, by a historic margin: 97.85 percent voted yes. That doesn’t mean a strike will happen. But the WGA’s contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents about 350 TV and film production companies, ends on May 1. And if the two parties can’t reach agreement about the terms of the next three-year contract, then writers could walk off the job as soon as that happens. Writers strikes are something the average person doesn’t have to think about most of the time. At most, we have hazy memories of strikes from years past, maybe wondering why some seasons of The Office seem shorter when we stream them. But they’re significant moments in cultural history, and often have to do with different aspects of the business trying to figure out how to deal with the giant technological advances that drive Hollywood. So here are five questions about the possible WGA strike, why it matters, and what it might mean for you and for the future of entertainment. [Read the full story »](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( The expensive, unrealistic, and extremely white world of "momfluencers" Author Sara Petersen on how a certain image of motherhood took over social media and makes moms feel bad. [Read the full story »]( Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret is about far more than periods A new movie adaptation captures the sneaky complexity of what Judy Blume’s classic gets right about being 11. [Read the full story »](   Support our work We aim to explain what we buy, why we buy it, and why it matters. Support our mission by making a gift today. [Give](   More good stuff to read today - [No, seriously, why did Fox News fire Tucker Carlson?]( - [AI should scare Hollywood writers — and everyone else]( - [How to find your people]( - [Are you a good listener? The answer may surprise you.]( - [Disney's had enough — it's taking Ron DeSantis to court](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=culture). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Policy]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.