FilmmakerFocus’s Strike Talk Week 20: Two Vets Warn Billy Ray About Studios’ Costly Pursuit of Netflix Streaming Model in Ongoing Dispute

In the midst of this never-ending Hollywood-hobbling strike, now in its 20th week, Billy Ray turns to two industry veterans for their insights. Peter Aronson, a seasoned TV executive, and Richard Rushfield, a columnist for The Ankler, share their thoughts on how we reached this point and what needs to be done to get people back to work. They discuss the disastrous consequences of the AMPTP’s decision to follow the Netflix streaming model, the misleading PR tactics employed by the signatories, and the crucial steps that must be taken in the upcoming talks to revive Hollywood. The situation has become dire – Bill Maher and Drew Barrymore are facing backlash on social media for resuming their shows without writers. Their reasoning is simple: after five months without a paycheck, non-guild employees on these shows are struggling to make ends meet while waiting for the guilds and studios to reach a deal. Listen to their perspectives here: