Gavin Newsom offers to help end Hollywood strike
David Zimmermann
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Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has offered his help in mediating the SAG-AFTRA and WGA contract negotiations to end the joint Hollywood strike, his office said Wednesday.
Anthony York, Newsom’s senior adviser for communications, said the governor has contacted all sides of the dispute, including studio executives, actors, and writers. However, none of the involved parties has expressed interest in Newsom’s intervention, the Associated Press reported.
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“It’s clear that the sides are still far apart, but he is deeply concerned about the impact a prolonged strike can have on the regional and state economy,” York said. “Thousands of jobs depend directly or indirectly on Hollywood getting back to work,” which include crew, staff, and catering.
Newsom is particularly concerned about the status of California’s economy because the unprecedented strike is expected to cripple the entertainment industry, which could lose as much as $4 billion if Hollywood doesn’t get back to business in a timely manner, according to an economic strategist.
For comparison, the 2007 Hollywood writers strike cost California $2.1 billion, the Milken Institute reported.
The actors joined the writers earlier this month to protest the film and television studios for higher pay and better creative protection against artificial intelligence, among other issues.
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When the writers strike began in May, Newsom said his office would intervene “when called in by both sides,” according to Deadline. As of Thursday, that has yet to happen.
York did not specify whom Newsom spoke with on the union or studio side. The Washington Examiner contacted Newsom’s press office for comment.