How streaming caused the TV writers strike

The reason behind our current situation is the emergence of streaming which has caused a major disruption in the entertainment industry. This has resulted in a significant change for writers and actors with degrees in the past decade or so. The Golden Age of Television has been brought about by this change. One of the earliest and most iconic streaming shows was House of Cards, which made a huge impact with its fast-paced and visually stunning storytelling, along with its star-studded cast. This evolution has widened the scope of opportunities for writers, particularly for young and diverse voices who previously had to relocate to expensive cities like LA or New York to make a career in the industry. However, the current state of affairs is not the same as before. There is a clear distinction between network shows and streaming shows. Network shows refer to the traditional television channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. that we all grew up with. They follow a season format that typically runs from September to May with 22 episodes. This format is primarily used for procedural shows like Gray's Anatomy or CSI. The September start date was influenced by the release of new car models and the subsequent heavy advertising campaigns.

The model of the network functioned for a considerable period of time. A few individuals have a reliable profession. I made an entrance in Law and Order Criminal Intent and served on the staff for four years. Eventually, I became the show runner. Payment was made either by the week or by the episode. When they mentioned fifteen thousand dollars, I assumed it was the total amount. I was unaware that it was the payment for each episode. I had stumbled upon something I did not comprehend. However, it enabled me to earn a livelihood and start a family in New York. I believe that those opportunities have now closed. On the positive side, streaming provides creative freedom. There is no need to worry about commercial breaks. In an hour-long episode of SVU, we have five commercial breaks. Therefore, something must happen at the end of each act to ensure that viewers return. Writing must conform to the advertising that finances it. However, when writing for streaming, there is no need to worry about commercial breaks. You can use a different structure, such as an organic three-act structure for an hour-long episode. Furthermore, you can have shorter seasons with eight or six episode runs.

In the past, television shows were able to span across eight episodes, allowing for a deeper and darker story. This was a great aspect that attracted writers from various backgrounds such as movies and novels. However, with the decrease in episode orders, it has become difficult for writers to maintain the same status quo they previously had, resulting in the need to find multiple jobs a year. Although no one is requesting for a return to 20-episode seasons, the stability and longevity of those jobs is what writers and the product need. The writer's room function remains the same, with writers coming together to break story, craft a season, and write episodes. The hierarchy within the room consists of staff writers, story editors, executive story editors, co-producers, producers, supervising producers, co-executive producers, and executive producers. The creative process involves discussing elements such as genre, episode length, and story development. The next phase is production, where the entire crew comes together. Length, and story development. The next phase is production, where the entire crew comes together.

Game of Thrones

economical and time-consuming to create, resulting in longer gaps between seasons. This allows writers more time before their next employment opportunity. Having all episodes written before production begins provides a broader perspective on the season, including locations and potential plot developments. If a storyline arises in the last episode, it can be tied back to earlier episodes. However, not having writers present during production can negatively impact both the production and the writers. A staff writer on the streaming show "The Bear" shared a story of attending an award show and having to rent a bow tie, despite the show's critical acclaim. This highlights the financial struggles that can accompany the production process.