As contract negotiations have continued, leaders of the Writers Guild of America have asked their members to give them authority to call a strike should they fail to reach an agreement on a new contract with studios by May 1. While a strike is not assured, many in Hollywood say the union is poised to stage its first walkout in 15 years. A strike would halt much of film and TV production nationwide and upend an industry that is a cornerstone of Southern California’s economy. This package of stories explains the roots of the labor tensions, the upheaval facing major studios amid shifts in how entertainment is consumed, lessons learned from the last big walkout and what consumers might expect to see.
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