‘Pay your writers or we’ll spoil Succession’: Images from day one of the Hollywood writers’ strike

Tuesday marked the beginning of the writers’ strike, as TV and film writers with the Writers Guild of America marched in picket lines in New York City and across Hollywood.



Writers and supporters gathered outside of Peacock Newfront in Manhattan and outside of Amazon Studios, Disney, and Netflix offices in Southern California, among other locations. Picketers held signs reading “No pages without fair wages” and “Pay your writers or we’ll spoil Succession.”




Members picketing at Paramount today #WGAStrike pic.twitter.com/EBrxSaaAsA — Writers Guild of America West (@WGAWest) May 2, 2023





#WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/OvEkEMjV7z — Travis Helwig (@travishelwig) May 2, 2023





Hit them where it hurts. #wgastrong pic.twitter.com/ZCRdRypt4G — Phillip Iscove (@pmiscove) May 2, 2023





Several reporters today were walking around asking writers how long we’d *actually* be willing to strike. I don’t know dude, how long do you think it’ll take 11,000 unemployed writers to run out of sign ideas? #wgastrong #writersstrike pic.twitter.com/C0cq81jTcF — mah ree nah (@marinarachael) May 3, 2023





WGA strike day 1 and the picket line is strong! ✊????✏️ pic.twitter.com/q2X8G6QH6s — elijah (@prophet_motive) May 2, 2023





I was able to do a full picket shift because I recently got a new, full-suspension wheelchair that is super comfy and supportive. And how did I get this chair?WGA Health Insurance! ✊????#WGAstrong #WGAstrike pic.twitter.com/yGUt2LzRAG — Jamey Perry (she/her) (@jameyjean) May 2, 2023




In California, Bill Nye joined writers on the picket lines, as did Rob Lowe, who spoke to Deadline to share why he supported the strike: “We’re only as good as the writing we get.” Outside of the Disney studios, one writer shared a video of Jay Leno stopping by the picket line to hand out donuts to striking writers.




Thank you @BillNye for joining @WGAWest writers on the picket line today! #WGAStrong #FairContractNow #WGAStrike pic.twitter.com/oZzTlt6fb3 — Andra (on-druh) Whipple (@whipsical) May 3, 2023





Rob Lowe on the picket line outside of the Paramount lot in LA today: “We’re only as good as the writing we get” #WritersStrike pic.twitter.com/x7UASNi1af — Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) May 2, 2023





Jay Leno just came to Disney to hand out donuts to us writers. Thank you @jayleno for the solidarity!! #WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/4pq8kpWTSk — Caroline “WGA Captain” Renard (@carolinerenard_) May 2, 2023




Along with showing support in person, actors and other entertainers also shared why they’re standing with writers online. Comedian John Mulaney, who previously worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live, said that he was canceling his May 6 event with Jon Stewart, noting that he stands with the Guild writers during the strike.




Thanks to those who got tickets to my FYC event with @jonstewart on May 6. I am canceling our discussion however. I’m a writer first and foremost. I stand with my Guild – the @WGAWest and @WGAEast during this strike. A great deal of money is made off of their work and they… — John Mulaney (@mulaney) May 3, 2023




J. Smith-Cameron, who stars as Gerri Kellman in the HBO series Succession, tweeted her support, saying, “It all starts with the writing.”




It all starts with the writing. Someone makes up the story and then actors, directors, cinematographers, etc bring it to life.It’s the WRITING behind every great drama or film. IT’S THE WRITING.#WGAStrong — J. Smith-Cameron???? (@j_smithcameron) May 3, 2023




Wanda Sykes, who marched with writers in 2007 when the Guild went on strike for 100 days, shared a photo of herself holding a “Writers Guild of America On Strike” sign with the caption: “Here we go again!”




Here we go again! #wgastrong pic.twitter.com/9hCG61CHj0 — Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 2, 2023




Guild members also saw support from other entertainment unions, including SAG-AFTRA, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and from the Teamsters, who represent an array of jobs on sets from drivers to animal handlers. Previously, multiple other unions had come out with statements of support for the WGA ahead of the strike.




We are stronger together! New York is showing up and showing out at the WGA picketline. #WGAStrong #solidarity #1u pic.twitter.com/vTor2NCY2T — SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) May 2, 2023





Day 1 in the books. Will be out tomorrow at 6AM, Teamsters kindly told us they’re supposed to bring trucks in early, but they won’t cross picket lines if we are out there in the morning. We got this. #WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/2spqpYghMX — peterchiarelli (@peterchiarelli) May 3, 2023




Writers are striking over issues around streaming residuals, the use of mini-rooms, higher minimum pay floors, and AI’s role in the writers’ room. Guild members shared the document of proposals the WGA presented to the studios online; on the point of AI, that document shows that writers asked to “regulate the use of artificial intelligence on [minimum basic agreement]-covered projects; AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and MBA-covered material can’t be used to train AI.” The AMPTP’s response, per that document, was to reject that proposal, and to counter by offering “annual meetings to discuss advancements of technology.”




Here are the #WGA’s proposals to help writers achieve a living wage (note: our minimum basic agreement is not a guarantee of employment, this is only applicable IF we are so lucky to land a coveted writing job!). #WGAstrong pic.twitter.com/q4qv2jXStV — Robin Thede (@robinthede) May 2, 2023