Editor’s note: Paul Young is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. As the Emmy-winning producer and founder of Make Good Content, he knows what it takes to succeed. He’s also co-founded Principato-Young Entertainment and served as chairman of the Groundlings Theater. His latest project is the Ferris Bueller spinoff, Sam and Victor’s Day Off, for Paramount. But today, he’s writing to you, Ted, because our entertainment community needs a leader. We need someone who will take responsibility for the mess we’re in. We need a CEO who will listen to the writers’ concerns and do something about it. We need a rich guy to do the right thing, even if it costs money. And Ted, we need you.
Ted, you’re the right person for the job. Netflix has a history of supporting artists, and you’ve established relief funds for workers impacted by Covid and for storytellers from underrepresented communities. Sure, you’ve made some programming choices that have alienated people, but at least you owned up to it. That’s rare for a corporate suit.
I won’t go into the details of the strike, but the writers have valid concerns, and I know you know that. We need to approach this negotiation with common sense and good faith. Netflix disrupted the ecosystem where writers were fairly compensated, and now they’re getting completely screwed. You’re as much to blame as anyone.
Every agreement should be rooted in fairness and mutual respect. When one side ignores the concerns of the other, trust is broken. When your negotiator refused to acknowledge the writers’ concerns, they effectively said, “You’re not worth our time, and you are not our partners.” The writers had no choice but to strike, and innocent people will get hurt. Someone has to lead the AMPTP out of this mess, and Ted, why not you?
The WGA strike is just one battle in a larger war between the super rich and everyone else. The middle class is disappearing, and it’s not right. Jeff Bezos can shoot William Shatner into space to publicize his rocket, but can’t help showbiz workers make a living wage? It’s time to achieve some balance in our own community. Talk to the writers directly, Ted, and acknowledge their proposals. Share the wealth that they help create. Protecting the profession of writing protects your business, too. Make the hard choice now before too many people get hurt.
I walked the Netflix picket line last week with some clients. We talked, laughed, and ate donuts. We chanted slogans and even danced a bit because a mariachi band showed up. It reminded me why I love our business. We’re a community, and you’re an important part of it. We all came here on a dream, and now we’re just living our lives. All the writers are asking is that they get to live theirs. Can’t you stop fighting them?
