Why Are Filmmakers Cancelling Netflix?

Why Are Filmmakers Cancelling Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu?

The Key Issues:

Hours/Turnarounds
The IA is seeking reduced hours and longer, standardised turnarounds. Shooting days have historically been 12.5+ hours from crew call to wrap (not including pre-calls and wrap time) but 14-16 hour shooting days are becoming increasingly common. Many positions have less than 10 hour turnarounds. Crews are asking for 10 hour days to become standard with minimum 10 hour turnarounds.

Pension and Healthcare
Union workers are eligible for health insurance and pension through the union. Historically, the pension and healthcare system is funded by matching contributions by the studios to worker’s hours and from residuals a project produces. However, as more and more productions are intended for online streaming services, which do not produce traditional residuals, contributions to the fund have decreased. Coupled with the increasing costs of healthcare in the US the fund is becoming insolvent. The IA has asked for increased contributions by the studios, and a restructure of the contracts with online streaming producers. The AMPTP has responded by suggesting the requirements for pension and healthcare be increased instead of funding - making fewer workers eligible.

Wages
The union wants to immediately boost the wages of the lowest paid members to a Los Angeles living wage. Many positions are only making $1-$2/hour above minimum wage, which is roughly $10/hour below Los Angeles living wage. Wages on streaming productions are also lower than on traditional projects of the same budget. The IA wants to restructure these contracts to be inline with productions for traditional television and theatrical release. Furthermore, LA Local 871 (script supervisors, coordinators, and accountants) has the lowest wages in the union, and is the only local that is predominantly female. Remedying the obvious inequalities there is also a goal but the studios are ambivalent.

IATSE on Twitter:
twitter.com/IATSE/

IA_Stories on Instagram:
instagram.com/ia_stories/

I'm Bode Riis [they/them]
patreon.com/SharpLeft