In fall 2023, Hollywood is looking a lot different than usual. For the first time since 2008, film and TV writers walked off the job, due to a labor strike organized by the Writers’ Guild of America (WGA). And for the first time since 1980, actors and actresses are off the job due to a strike organized by their union SAG-AFTRA. All told, it’s the first time both sides of the motion picture and TV industry have been on strike together in more than 60 years.

Cal State Fullerton Management Lecturer Amani Roberts, who focuses on entertainment and hospitality management, says the cause of the Hollywood strikes are three-fold.

“It’s about money, in the sense of residuals; mini writing rooms, which are reducing the time TV writers are on set and making the pipeline for qualified writers smaller; and concerns about AI taking over the job of human writers and actors,” says Roberts.

On the residuals side, Roberts notes that the shift toward streaming – as opposed to selling movies and music through DVDs or CDs – is leaving many in the industry high and dry.

“If you look at streaming for TV and film, for the most part, only the top 1% or 0.5% get money from streaming. Most actors and below the line participants on a TV show or movie do not get compensated when their show is streamed. For most people, it’s not a way to make a living, which is how it is for TV and film industries,” he says.

And mini writing rooms that end after scripts are written but before production starts mean that TV writers aren’t employed for eight or nine months like they used to be, but often must settle for a twenty week contract on a ten episode per season streaming series. All this makes it harder to make a living out of TV writing.

The rise of AI is perhaps the most complex concern, and one that is likely to be in the forefront in coming years.

“AI is definitely changing the way we operate and do things across all industries, especially hospitality and entertainment,” he says. “We even have ‘deep fake’ Drake and Ariana Grande songs. It’s an issue. There need to be some laws in place quickly to protect the artists and creators. Otherwise, computers will be making more and more of the content we consume.”

Roberts sees one silver lining as AI technologies grow: the need for a human’s emotional element.

“AI could probably create a very basic TV show, but AI can’t create the compelling moments that are relevant to the times that tap into people’s emotions that will create a memorable episode. It can’t duplicate that. You still need the human touch.”

Strikes Ripple Through the Entertainment and Hospitality Industry…And Beyond

Labor strikes aren’t just the domain of Hollywood this year.

Hotel workers, teachers, Amazon drivers, fast food workers and many others are on the picket lines. United Auto Workers are currently threatening to freeze the American auto industry if certain conditions aren’t met.

“The pandemic was a huge wake up call for labor forces worldwide. There is a new understanding that tomorrow is not guaranteed. If I’m going to be working, I want to at least have a better working environment. And then there’s inflation, in the U.S. generally and the very expensive Southern California market particularly. If I’m going to be working, I need to be compensated accordingly. If I’m not going to get an increase in wages – if it’s the same amount that we were earning five, seven, nine years ago – that’s not going to be enough,” says Roberts.

Roberts particularly sees disruption in the hospitality field, where texted QR codes will soon replace hotel check-in desks and independently owned “ghost kitchens” are disrupting restaurant hotels, which are in many cases no longer profitable.

These innovations, which were birthed during COVID, are finding a more permanent life in the post-pandemic world.

“We need to develop students to be flexible and innovative, ready to take on the new challenges and new ways of doing things,” says Roberts. “And that is what we are doing at the Center for Entertainment and Hospitality Management at CSUF.”

“The resilience of our students during the pandemic and coming out of the pandemic was definitely something to be proud of,” he says. “It was tough for our students to find and keep work. Our industry was really hit hard. But they kept at it and took internships and were very resourceful.”

Other accomplishments Roberts touts include MGMT 477, a new interdisciplinary course focusing on the business-end of the music industry open to both business and music majors, and the continued growth, success and alumni involvement in clubs such as Behind the Scenes, which focuses on entertainment careers generally, and the Music Industry Club.

The world of entertainment and hospitality is changing rapidly, but Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Entertainment and Hospitality is ahead of the game and preparing students to thrive and lead in this field that is so impactful in Southern California.

For more on educational programs as a student or how to get involved as an alumnus or business professional, visit the center online. Or read more of our articles on CSUF entertainment and hospitality management.