Last week, the Atlanta Regional Commission issued its Arts and Culture report, an overview of the arts and culture sector’s economic impact in metro Atlanta. The report is intended to not only measure the impact of the sector but give a boost to support of the sector, connecting the cultural impact to real dollars.
Among the key findings were that metro Atlanta’s creative industries experienced an annual growth rate of 1.9 percent from 2016 to 2021, compared to 1.1 percent across all industries. The “actors” category saw a huge growth rate of 15 percent and “producers and directors” was up 10 percent. In total, the creative industries employ more than 89,000 people in the region, some 3 percent of the total employment base.
Indeed, Georgia has consistently ranked tops in the country for film production for the last several years. More than 400 movies, shows and commercials were filmed in the state last year. Unfortunately, thanks to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, much of that production is currently shut down.
Just on Wednesday, the Hollywood Reporter (THR) reported that the WGA had begun picketing outside an NBC soundstage in Atlanta where the show Hysteria is in production. It is believed it is the first time striking writers have targeted pickets here in the state. A veteran showrunner and strike captain told THR that the guild is trying to empty the “programming pipeline” and the quickest way to do that is to shut down shows in progress, not just wait until they are all done. While no new content is being created, production studios are attempting to make do with whatever content was already written.
Other unions are also joining the strike in effect, with the Teamsters and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees refusing to cross the picket lines in Chicago and New York.
Besides Hysteria, one of the state’s most well-known productions Stranger Things also shut down in early May. “Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike,” said the show’s creators and writers the Duffer brothers. “We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out.”
Interestingly, reality shows like Love and Hip Hop Atlanta are not affected because they are unscripted. The last writers strike in 2007 saw an explosion of reality television.
That strike lasted 100 days and there is concern this one may be longer thanks to the messiness of streaming shows and the difference in business model from for many productions from 2007. Considering the state saw a $4.4 billion economic impact last year, a lingering strike could possibly have widening consequences for state and local revenue.
