Vox Sentences - Why Hollywood's writers went on strike

Hollywood writers strike for better pay in streaming era; 100,000 flee intensifying Sudan violence.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.

Hollywood's writers strike

Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

• Around 11,500 unionized television and screenwriters went on strike Tuesday after negotiations failed with the association representing Hollywood studios and production companies. [Vox / Alissa Wilkinson]
• The writers are seeking better minimum pay, staff expansion, and changes to residual payments for syndicated shows amid dwindling salaries in the streaming era. [NBC News / Daniel Arkin]
• Late-night TV will air reruns during the strike. Writing for fall shows typically happens in May and June, which means scripted series could face delays. [Deadline / Tom Tapp]
• The walkouts come as major studios slash thousands of jobs and cut spending to improve the profitability of streaming services. [Associated Press / Jake Coyle]
• The work stoppage could last months, with impacts on businesses dependent on Hollywood productions; 2007 walkouts lasted 100 days and cost the LA economy $2.1 billion. [New York Times / John Koblin and Brooks Barnes]

📍 If you read just one story

Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson explains how the Hollywood’s writers strike could help stave off the looming threat of artificial intelligence. [Vox / Alissa Wilkinson]

100,000 leave amid Sudan fighting

• Since April 15, 100,000 people have left Sudan, where there is intense fighting, for neighboring countries, while over 334,000 are internally displaced. [Reuters]
• Over 500 people have been killed and at least 4,900 injured in clashes for control of the country, between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. [AP / Samy Magdy]
• Fighting has continued despite temporary ceasefires; many residents in the capital city of Khartoum are trapped at home without access to services and humanitarian aid. [BBC / Farouk Chothia and Imogen Foulkes]
• Tuesday, army and paramilitary leaders agreed to a weeklong truce beginning May 4. The UN estimates 800,000 people could flee Sudan this year if the violence continues. [NYT / Abdi Latif Dahir]

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“I think we’re getting to the point where it’s going to be that the only people who can afford to try to start a career in television or movies are going to be people who are independently wealthy already.”

[BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg / NBC News]

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