#129: Today's dual strike of WGA & SAG-AFTRA bears a striking similarity to the last time both unions joined on the picket lines: 1960. In both contract disputes, the main concern for writers and actors revolved around emerging technologies. Where today's union members are concerned about streaming residuals and AI, their forebears were concerned about their movies being rebroadcast on TV. The major studios may have changed but, in both cases, workers are saying they are not receiving their fair share of the profits.
So today we're checking in with LAist's favorite history journalist, Hadley Meares, to talk about what we can learn from past strikes, and how 1960's echoes can still be felt today.
Check out Hadley's article on LAist.com: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/how-the-sag-strike-of-1960-foreshadowed-hollywoods-current-battle
Music in this episode composed by: Mort Garson, indiegamemusic.com, Maston, Moon Mullins, Macabre Plaza, Mamman Sanni, Dexter Thomas, Woo