A decentralised view on the SAG-AFTRA strikes in the Film Industry
The entertainment industry thrives on collaboration, creativity, and the contributions of numerous talented professionals. Within this ecosystem, labor unions play a crucial role in advocating for the rights and well-being of workers. One such union is the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). In recent years, there have been discussions about the potential benefits of decentralisation in addressing issues such as writer strikes. Today, we explore the relationship between SAG-AFTRA, writer strikes, and how decentralisation in film and television can offer potential solutions.
SAG-AFTRA: A Brief Overview
SAG-AFTRA represents a diverse range of professionals in the entertainment industry, including actors, broadcasters, and other media workers. The union negotiates and enforces collective bargaining agreements that secure fair wages, safe working conditions, and important benefits for its members. SAG-AFTRA’s primary objective is to protect the rights and interests of its members, ensuring they receive appropriate compensation and are treated fairly. You can find out more about the guild, here: https://www.sagaftra.org
Writer Strikes: A Historical Challenge
Writer strikes have been a recurring challenge in the film industry. These strikes occur when writers collectively cease work in pursuit of better pay, working conditions, or other demands. Such strikes can disrupt film and television production, leading to delays, financial losses, and creative setbacks. In recent years, writer strikes have highlighted the need for comprehensive solutions that address the underlying issues. Currently films such as Minecraft, Gladiator 2 and Venom 3. These delays can of course cause a significant ripple effect through the industry.
The Potential of Decentralisation
Decentralisation, in the context of SAG-AFTRA and the film industry, refers to the dispersal of decision-making authority and power from a central entity to regional or local units. While there are differing perspectives on how decentralisation could be implemented within SAG-AFTRA, proponents argue that it offers several potential benefits in addressing writer strikes and related issues. There is a range of ways this can be done, but to start with, Governance voting with tokenized assets is the best first step. This ensures not only fair reflective voting, but voting from all stakeholders, regardless of if they are a major studio, or a junior writer. Some specific ideas are below.
- Increased Regional Representation: Decentralisation could provide a platform for regional branches of SAG-AFTRA to have more autonomy and decision-making power. This could ensure that the unique needs and concerns of different areas within the industry are adequately addressed.
- Tailored Contract Negotiations: By decentralising decision-making processes, SAG-AFTRA branches in different regions could negotiate contracts that are better suited to the specific requirements and challenges faced by local writers. This flexibility may lead to more satisfactory outcomes and reduce the likelihood of strikes.
- Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Decentralisation can facilitate increased collaboration and knowledge sharing among SAG-AFTRA branches. Regional units could exchange best practices, strategies, and insights to collectively address common issues faced by writers and other industry professionals. This sharing of information can strengthen the union’s overall effectiveness.
- Empowering Local Leadership: Decentralisation could empower local leadership within SAG-AFTRA, enabling them to address immediate concerns and mobilize resources effectively. Local leaders may have a better understanding of the regional dynamics and be more responsive to the needs of their members, potentially reducing the likelihood of prolonged strikes.
- Diversification of Creative Voices: Decentralisation can encourage the emergence of diverse creative voices by giving regional branches the freedom to promote and support local talent. By empowering regional leadership, SAG-AFTRA can ensure that underrepresented groups and marginalized voices receive adequate representation, leading to a more inclusive and culturally rich entertainment industry.
Script Blockchain — a solution to Hollywoods problem?
A very likely scenario here is a ‘stand off’ between major studios, and (essentially) everyone else in Hollywood. This will lead to further delays of major films, alongside actors and smaller studios beginning to band together to form competing companies — with the plan in mind to treat their employees and those in the distribution chain, fairly. This will lead to more segmentation through film, alongside a lack of infrastructure for smaller players to be able to store content, transfer it or deliver it at an efficient cost (since they don’t have scale). Any of these likely scenarios, perfectly positions Script Blockchain and the leading solution — not just for web3 live TV and film, but as a fair environment for writers, producers, directors, actors. This will allow the ability to develop, engage, store and distribute — alongside giving every single stakeholder in the chain fair pay, but also fair governance and a ‘say’ in what happens long term in their respective studio.
In Conclusion…
SAG-AFTRA plays a crucial role in advocating for the rights and welfare of workers in the entertainment industry. Addressing writer strikes and related issues requires innovative approaches, and decentralisation has emerged as a potential solution. By granting more decision-making power to regional branches, decentralisation can lead to tailored negotiations, increased collaboration, and empowered local leadership. However, the specifics of decentralisation and its impact on SAG-AFTRA’s structure and operations require thoughtful deliberation. As the industry evolves, it is essential for unions like SAG-AFTRA to explore innovative strategies that adapt to the changing needs of its members while ensuring a thriving and sustainable entertainment industry for all. Script Blockchain will be here as a solution regardless, as we continue to drive forward as a genuine force for good in film and media — decentralising the industry one film clip at a time.
About Script Network
The Script Network is a video-based blockchain protocol focused on decentralized storage and 24/7 live content. Script Networks products include Script TV, GameFi NFTs, and multiple other dApps currently being built on-chain.
Script TV, (one of the core services of the Script Network protocol), is a free-to-air live television platform. It features countless channels and offers diverse movies, sports, documentaries, and news content, all of which earn rewards whilst watching content. Script Networks watch to earn elements allow users to develop and grow enhance their NFTs through GameFi mechanisms.
