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Striking at the heart of Hollywood

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(Noma Bar / For The Times)
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As contract negotiations have continued, leaders of the Writers Guild of America have asked their members to give them authority to call a strike should they fail to reach an agreement on a new contract with studios by May 1. While a strike is not assured, many in Hollywood say the union is poised to stage its first walkout in 15 years. A strike would halt much of film and TV production nationwide and upend an industry that is a cornerstone of Southern California’s economy. This package of stories explains the roots of the labor tensions, the upheaval facing major studios amid shifts in how entertainment is consumed, lessons learned from the last big walkout and what consumers might expect to see.

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Why Hollywood writers are on edge

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(Noma Bar / For The Times)

The surge in streaming content launched a new era of peak TV and created new opportunities for many writers. But it also produced fresh challenges, especially for working writers who are finding it harder to earn a living crafting scripts for film and TV. The Times spoke with five writers who shared their stories. >GO TO STORY

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Lessons learned from 2007-08 strike

Actors Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight with strike signs
Actors Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight march in 2007.
(Photo illustration by Los Angeles Times; Charley Gallay / Getty Images)

What lessons, if any, were learned from the last major strike, which was in 2007-08 and lasted 100 days? We talked with some of those involved for their perspective on the takeaways from a strike that brought significant gains for WGA members but also caused massive disruption to the film and TV industry and to Southern California’s economy. >GO TO STORY

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A moment of upheaval for the studios

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(Noma Bar / For The Times)

While writers complain that they have been short-changed by the streaming revolution, major media companies are experiencing their own upheaval that has led to mass layoffs at the Walt Disney Co. and other studios. The economic uncertainty along with the shifting nature of the producers’ alliance — which now includes tech giants such as Apple and Netflix — complicate tense contract negotiations with the Writers Guild of America. >GO TO STORY

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A surge in reality TV?

Bobby Ray and Tatum in Paradise Hotel
Bobby Ray and Tatum in Fox’s Paradise Hotel
(Photo illustration by Los Angeles Times; Fox Image Collection via Getty Images)

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What will we watch if a Hollywood writers strike once again rattles the television universe? If history is any indication, there’s at least one answer: reality TV. And plenty of it. >GO TO STORY

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