- Insider is asking film and TV writers to share what they make and show the challenges at the root of a potential WGA strike.
- Income inequality and creative control are concerns in entertainment, and we want to hear from you.
The shift to streaming media has resulted in a gush of new TV shows and movies, and content budgets at companies like Netflix and Disney have ballooned — but writers' pay hasn't kept up.
Fully half of TV series writers were paid the basic minimum rate under the WGA contract, up from 33% in 2013-14, according to a WGA survey.
With the WGA preparing to go on strike in May over pay and other issues regarding the structure of Hollywood writers' work, we want to hear from guild members about the challenges they face in making ends meet.
We're looking for guild members who are willing to share a breakdown of their income and expenses — how they make ends meet as they build a Hollywood career, from the first gig to the first producer credit and beyond — in addition to their thoughts on pay satisfaction and career outlook.
Given the sensitive nature of the topic, we're granting anonymity in exchange for candor. We may request documentation for verification purposes, but we won't publish those documents. We also won't disclose participants' names, their employer(s), or any other identifying information.
For an idea of what this project will look like, see our earlier post on Hollywood salary diaries.
Email me lmoses@insider.com with the subject line "Hollywood writer salary diary" if you're interested in being part of this package that will illuminate what's at stake for creative careers in Hollywood now.