Today marks day 11 of the Writers Guild of America’s strike in support of increased compensation and a stable pay structure. Fairer deals and protection from artificial intelligence are two other needs. Production on multiple films has ceased as the outcome of the strike, which has the backing of notable directors including Christopher Nolan.
However, this region of the world, where authors have long discussed a comparable set of issues, is also feeling the effects. The only differences are that they now have an opinion for the first time and that talks to find a solution with the producers are about to start.
Anjum Rajabali, who co-wrote the screenplay for Raajneeti and wrote films like Ghulam, claims, Anjum Rajabali, who co-wrote the screenplay for Raajneeti and wrote films like Ghulam, claims, “While their strike doesn’t have a direct bearing on the Indian situation, it has brought into public focus the unfair treatment that writers receive. Here too screenwriters face serious problems professionally. Writing fees in India are nowhere near the value that the script brings to the film. New and young writers are distressed as they feel exploited. The contracts that producers, studios, and platforms offer are grossly one-sided with the company demanding all the rights and protection leaving the writer vulnerable. And the most important right is to be credited for your work. However, the contract insists that credit will be given at the discretion of the producer!”
Apurva Asrani, who created the critically acclaimed film Aligarh and the web series Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, believes that for a writers’ strike to be successful, it is necessary for successful actors and filmmakers to support the writers. “In the US you have Christopher Nolan and Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, performers Jennifer Coolidge and Jimmy Fallon offer passionate support to writers through blogs, social media and by even standing in picket lines. In India, where actors and directors are paid disproportionately to writers, no one really wants to change the status quo.”
Zeishan Quadri, who penned the film Gangs of Wasseypur, avers, “We all should be called for a meeting, there is no organised way here. There is no one to guide writers. If something wrong is happening, it continues”.
Mitesh Shah, co-writer for Helicopter Eela and Tummbad, spoke to Hindustan Times in an interview in which he had mentioned, “SWA has been talking about all this for a long time now. But I haven’t received as many calls as I am now, after the US strike. Barring a few industry people, there has been very little support. I have known a few writers selling their scripts for as less as ₹50,000- a lakh, when the minimum wage should be atleast 12 lakhs. A writer doesn’t write many stories in a lifetime, you don’t want them to die poor. The piece of paper is where it all begins.”
