Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you’re likely aware that Hollywood is currently in a state of turmoil. For the first time in 63 years, both writers and actors are on strike at the same time. As it stands, numerous film and TV productions have been put on pause and thousands of writers and actors have joined the picket line to demand better pay, job security, and protections from the use of artificial intelligence or AI.
For some context, the writers’ strike was first initiated on May 2nd by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) — which has over 11,500 members — after failure to reach a suitable agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), following many months spent negotiating their next three-year contract. According to Variety, the decision to strike was largely fueled by the WGA seeking a “major reworking” of writer compensation and working conditions in Hollywood — including “a sizable increase in minimums, a better formula for residuals on streaming platforms, and a minimum staffing requirement for all TV shows.”
Similar to the writers’ strike, the actors’ strike was also kickstarted on July 14th, following failed negotiations. The Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which represents about 160,000 Hollywood actors, were unable to reach a new deal for its contract during talks with major studios and streaming services. Per Variety, SAG-AFTRA is “fighting for higher wages, increased residual payments, and protections around using artificial intelligence.”
As a result of the ongoing strikes, which is the WGA’s first since the 100-day strike in 2007 and SAG’s first since 1980, Hollywood has been brought to a standstill. All of WGA’s union members have vowed not to write, develop, pitch, or sell new scripts for film and TV productions until the union votes to end the strike. Film and television actors in SAG have also halted all work covered by their union contract—meaning that they are unable to attend premieres, go to award shows, do interviews for their completed work, attend film festivals, or promote projects on social media while the strike is in effect.
What many people fail to realize about this work stoppage is that it affects way more than just the writers and actors. Without a script and artists to bring said script to life, there’s no production. So, if writers and actors aren’t working, then it goes without saying that below-the-line crew members — such as cinematographers, editors, costumers, craft services, makeup artists, and hairstylists — aren’t working either. In fact, many of these workers are now relying on their savings or scrambling to find other non-union gigs in order to survive what will likely be many more months of unemployment.
With the writers strike now in its third month and so many of our industry’s beauty pros feeling its impact, The Tease felt it was necessary to hear from a few Hollywood makeup artists and hairstylists about how they really feel about the WGA strike and the effects that it has been having on their careers. Ahead, three hair and beauty pros discuss whether they stand in solidarity with the writers, how it feels to be experiencing another WGA strike after the previous one in 2007, their concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their line of work, and the changes that they hope to see for creatives working in the entertainment industry.
Jessica Padilla, (@nogutsnoglamour)
IATSE Local 798 Makeup Artist for TV, Film, and Editorial
Location: New York City
How are you feeling about the current writers’ strike that’s impacting Hollywood?
Padilla: I feel that the writers’ strike is necessary at this moment in time. No one wants to be out of work for months, but there is a lot on the line for the entertainment industry currently. Below-the-line workers cannot afford to budge when it comes to receiving fair wages or having structures in place for navigating newer technologies, such as streaming service residuals or AI (in regards to how and when it can be implemented). If we wait to address these pending changes, it will be too late. We’ve already learned that the hard way with streaming services thus far. Producers still claim it’s “new technology” and they don’t know how successful it will be and that is simply just not true. Writers are losing money rapidly in that area of production, which now makes up most of the available work.
Do you stand in solidarity with the writers? Why or why not?
Padilla: Absolutely. No question. I am a proud Local 798 union makeup artist and the Membership Director of Local 798, and there is no doubt in my mind that we are stronger together. Sometimes, as freelance artists, it’s really hard to keep the greater good in focus. It’s difficult when work becomes scarce and rent is due, not to be tempted to do jobs for less money or take less than ideal contracts. But, I started as a freelance non-union artist and I know firsthand how employers and producers can take advantage of gig workers. If hiring did the right thing, there wouldn’t be a need for unions, but they have proven time and time again that they don’t value the workers. It’s easy to inadvertently “poison the water” as a freelance artist for those who are coming up behind you by saying “yes” to less than ideal circumstances, and then that sets a precedent for all of the jobs going forward. Rates rarely go up from the initial ask. Free work almost never turns into a paid job. When an employer finds a cheaper option, they will always take it and then that becomes the standard. When you ask for what is right, and hold out for it, you are actually bettering working conditions for everyone going forward, not just yourself.
What have you observed about the strike as a beauty professional working in the entertainment industry?
Padilla: The strike is really affecting people. It’s exhausting. Coming off Covid shutdowns, no one was in a super stable place financially to start with. I personally don’t believe we had all recovered or gotten back to the “before” times. Throughout Covid, productions were hiring less background and less artists to cover them, to keep numbers down. Production work was definitely less than it had been before 2020. Many smaller productions probably couldn’t afford to run with all of the mandatory testing requirements. And now we all find ourselves once again, out of work. People are nervous and anxious. Mental health can suffer at times when you don’t know what’s coming or how long this will last. It’s really unfortunate timing to be fighting an uphill battle, but we have to remember, this is just one moment in time and it will end. And hopefully with a victory in workers’ wages and rights for all of us going forward.
Can you speak about the impact that the writers’ strike is currently having on your career as a makeup artist working in Hollywood?
Padilla: I haven’t had a full time gig since Covid. I was dayplaying, doing more fashion and private clients gigs in the last year as things were limping along. I just went to Germany for an opportunity that I can’t really speak about until it airs, but yeah, things are not okay—not for me or anyone who is in production right now. And not just production work will suffer. As all of the out-of-work artists search for fashion work or wedding work, etc., we will also be flooding a market where other artists are trying to make a living. There are ripple effects everywhere.
Did you experience the previous writers’ strike that happened in 2007? If so, how does it feel to now be living through another one?
Padilla: I was actually an actor living in LA in 2007 and I absolutely remember the 2007 writers’ strike. It was my first time getting involved in picket lines as a SAG member and being involved in a strike. It was crazy then and it’s crazy now. I have learned so much about how unions work and the power of collective bargaining through these trying moments.
Some people have said that the current writers’ strike could go even longer than the one in 2007. Are you worried about how long the strike may or may not go on?
Padilla: Of course, I am worried. I have no doubt that this strike could go on for months. There is a lot at stake here and I have been on the negotiating committee with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) with my own union before. I am well-versed in what that room looks like and how the sausage gets made. Look, it may be dramatic to say, but I came home and questioned humanity a lot at the time. Whenever humans go up against corporate greed, it’s really harrowing. This is a fight about all of our futures. A win for writers is a win for all of the unions. It means we can ask for those wins in our future contracts with a better chance of getting them, without giving up precious other items. I don’t love how this game is played, but it’s definitely a long one. I am committed to this fight for me and everyone else who dreams of a thriving career as a production worker.
The current writer’s strike has brought forward many conversations about the use of AI technology in entertainment and how it may impact writers in the future. Are you worried about the impact that AI may have on your own career? Why or why not?
Padilla: AI is coming. There is no question. The only question is, how will it be used and what are the ways we can limit its effect on taking away jobs from the gig worker? I don’t know that I have an answer to those questions myself, but I have no doubt that if an employer can save money by utilizing AI, they are going to do it. So, how do we protect ourselves and the human element that can never be replaced in any artistic endeavor? We have to address this now before it is like toothpaste that we can’t put back in the tube.
What do you wish more people knew about the realities of working as a makeup artist in the entertainment industry?
Padilla: It’s running a business. It’s every day, all day. We spend more time invoicing, billing, packing, and washing brushes than maybe even doing the actual makeup on any given day. We aren’t just paid for the makeup we do on any given gig. We are also paid for every class we took, every investment we made in our business and education along the way, and every single experience that made us the capable artist we are in the moment of a job. When you pay a rate, you are paying for the overall value of the artist you hire. It’s never “just a little powder or hairspray.” It’s a lifetime of dedication and commitment and artistry. Can you get a cheaper artist? Absolutely. But, you can’t get a “me” for less.
What changes do you hope to see happen for creatives working in the entertainment industry as a result of the writers’ strike?
Padilla: Like I mentioned earlier, a win for writers is a win for every contract to come. It sets an industry standard. I would love to see limits on AI that allows for the actual humans doing the work to come first. I would like to see higher wages for everyone, since the cost of housing and living everywhere is skyrocketing. Why should CEO’s of streaming channels have so much annual income, while most folks are just struggling to live in a house and feed their families? And across the board, we should be looking out for our lowest paid workers. We should be striving for wage parity between the highest paid and the lowest paid. Don’t even get me started on the treatment of production assistants (PAs) on set and the fact that they don’t even have skin in this game as non-union workers. They work the longest and the hardest for the least. If we can’t take care of them, we aren’t doing it right. It’s all of us together, or none of it matters.
Lastly, what can the public do to show support to writers and “below the line” crew members, like yourself, during this time?
Padilla: It’s a hard one, honestly. Look, if you know someone out of work right now because of the strike, maybe check in? Make sure they are doing okay. Instagram can be deceptive. Everyone looks fine on the surface. I think a lot of people are financially hurting and feeling low right now. Offer to go for walks or do inexpensive meetups. I plan on inviting some artists over for a roof deck hangout at my place this summer just to connect and collectively check in with one another. Sometimes, it helps to feel less alone at times like these. If you know anyone who has a side hustle that you can contribute to, do it! Buy from the Etsy store or get a haircut or makeover from that stylist right now. No contribution is too small. Support your fellow artists. We are in this together!
Terrie Velazquez Owen, (@hair_terrie)
IATSE Local 706 Hairstylist for TV and Film
Location: Los Angeles
How are you feeling about the current writers’ strike that’s impacting Hollywood?
Owen: I imagine most folks who work as crew are feeling anxious these days as the strike is going on its third month—with neither side coming to table and no talks. It’s looking like this will go until the fall.
Do you stand in solidarity with the writers? Why or why not?
Owen: Absolutely, I stand in solidarity…as do most of the labor unions working in the industry. It’s in our best interest to support any labor union seeking a fair and equitable working environment. Supporting their rights and advocating for their wellbeing is important. The writers play a crucial role in our industry as the creators of the scripts—that vital first step to all of our jobs as creative collaborators.
What have you observed about the strike as a beauty professional working in the entertainment industry?
Owen: As I learned about what is on the table for them, like fair pay and the looming threat of AI, I have become much more aware of how AI will affect me as a hairstylist and it’s frankly terrifying. AI can generate written and visual content for film and TV scripts and advertising media, cheaply and easily. We already have a lot of visual effects (VFX) departments working in film and TV today, so to see it expand and perhaps create job displacement is very troublesome. We must put stipulations into the new union labor contracts that are being negotiated now to help ensure we keep people working. Although you will not have the nuances of the human touch, it’s a very real threat that must be addressed at the unions and governmental levels through regulations and contract negotiations.
Has any of your current world been put on hold as a result of the writers’ strike?
Owen: Yes, all of my work is on hold.
Did you experience the previous writers’ strike that happened in 2007? If so, how does it feel to now be living through another one?
Owen: Yes, I did experience the last strike, and I happen to have gotten very lucky to have been working on Dancing with the Stars, a reality show which was not affected by the strike. I sadly don’t have that opportunity this time around, and there are few productions still able to continue, but my hope is as content starts to dwindle it will be a motivator to get a fair and equitable contract.
The current writer’s strike has brought forward many conversations about the use of AI technology in entertainment and how it may impact writers in the future. Are you worried about the impact that AI may have on your own career? Why or why not?
Owen: It is a very real threat, but since, currently, we have not yet replaced actors with AI images, I for one am open to exploring. I have been playing around with some AI apps and have been creating images that are inspiring me to create in real time and play around with ideas. AI has helped me to stay updated with trends, historical references for period hair on wigs and hairstyles, etc. It can also be a helpful tool for creating mood boards for collaborating with the director, makeup, and costumes. So, yes, there is an upside to the technology and we shouldn’t fear it, but regulate it!
What do you wish more people knew about the realities of working as a hairstylist in the entertainment industry?
Owen: It’s not glamorous—it’s hard work with many skill sets needed in addition to doing hair work and keeping current with trends. You must know period and character hair work, barbering, computer and technology skills, [deal] with the very early morning work calls, [experience] large amounts of time spent away from family and friends, [deal with] pressure to perform at a “no room for error margin,” manage large groups of hairdressers, create budgets and schedules and stick to them, [handle] egos or someone on your team undermining you, and generally, have a very thick skin to work under pressure.
What changes do you hope to see happen for creatives working in the entertainment industry as a result of the writers’ strike?
Owen: That all are fairly compensated, that we put AI regulations in place, that we still have live actors to work with hands-on, and that the hair designers’ skills, creativity, and personal touch remains a crucial part of the production process. We can still have outstanding results in hairstyles on characters brought to life by the hair department and all the creatives.
Lastly, what can the public do to show support to writers and “below the line” crew members, like yourself, during this time?
Owen: Stay informed about the reasons behind the strike via Writers Guild of America, East (WGA East) and Writers Guild of America, West (WGA West) —their websites and social media. These are the guilds representing the writers. There is a lot of misinformation about what the writers actually want. Please get your information from those guilds.
Bring awareness via social media. Support them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Contact the studios and streaming services to voice your concerns. Write emails and letters expressing your concerns.
Support, donate, or volunteer to strike funds for the various labor union locals. They directly support members in need. A few of them are here:
- Motion Picture & Televisions Fund
- Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund)
- Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation
Nanci Cascio, (@haircolordiva)
IATSE Local 706 Hairstylist for TV and Film
Location: Los Angeles
How are you feeling about the current writers’ strike that’s impacting Hollywood?
Cascio: I am at peace about it. It’s out of my personal control in having to negotiate anything for them, but I am thankful that there is a strong union supporting these writers and actors and directors. However, it is important to understand the dynamics of why this is happening and having that knowledge allows one to have empathy for them which I have and this is why I’m standing behind them in solidarity.
Do you stand in solidarity with the writers? Why or why not?
Cascio: I stand in solidarity with the writers because without the writers there isn’t content to produce, thus resulting in job loss across the board and a decline of lifestyle habits like shopping, Sunday brunch, Friday date night, dinner and a movie, landscaping the yard, drive-thru lattes and food deliveries, which are less likely to be utilized at present time.
What have you observed about the strike as a beauty professional working in the entertainment industry?
Cascio: All of my union friends in the beauty industry are out of work right now, and a lot of friends are hitting the streets holding picket signs and standing in solidarity with the writers. Hairdressers and makeup artists are not spending production’s money at the beauty supply warehouses, so these production supply houses are taking a big hit, not to mention the artists themselves are not earning an income.
Can you speak about the impact that the writers’ strike is currently having on your career as a hairstylist working in Hollywood?
Cascio: The impact of the writers’ strike hits a soft spot in our wallets. Not earning an income is depressing and it’s also very expensive right now to eat and drink and provide shelter and cover health costs. It’s more expensive when a family is involved. I’m fortunate enough to be single and I only have to think about myself. However, I am using my savings and it hits hard when my spending isn’t refurbished with new funds. Artistic hair and makeup teams here in Hollywood are not working, but we are all hopeful that a resolution will come quick so we can all get back to work.
Did you experience the previous writers’ strike that happened in 2007? If so, how does it feel to now be living through another one?
Cascio: Yes, I experienced the strike in 2007 and that one was a long one. Thank God, I had savings and I rode the whole nine months sitting on my laurels in a small one bedroom apartment. I remember being really afraid of not working again nor making any more money and getting stuck in this one little beginner apartment in Los Angeles all by myself, trying to make sense of it all.
Some people have said that the current writers’ strike could go even longer than the one in 2007. Are you worried about how long the strike may or may not go on?
Cascio: No, I am not worried if the strike goes longer than the one in 2007, because I was smart enough to save my money. Working and busting one’s butt doing 90 hours a week on a HBO production allows you to not spend any of your hard-earned money because you don’t have any time to spend it.
The current writer’s strike has brought forward many conversations about the use of AI technology in entertainment and how it may impact writers in the future. Are you worried about the impact that AI may have on your own career? Why or why not?
Cascio: My job needs two hands and a creative mind with expertise and talent. Much like AI, a hairstylist or makeup artist has to create using a description from the director or producer’s mind. I do think AI can compete and take over design. However, the hard copy design has to be executed. I’m not sure if AI has the capacity to create a hairstyle or do an elaborate makeup hardcopy on someone’s delicate face, but they can certainly do it on a computer, therefore removing the artist. AI can create concepts and ideas about an actor’s hairstyle and makeup. It takes a human, an artist, to execute the final “hardcopy” result. But, then again, that can also be taken over by AI in editing, and you would never know. Which brings us to why we are here today, the writers can lose their jobs to AI. The actors as well and while we are at it, why not add hair and make-up and then throw in costumers/wardrobe, set decoration, set construction, and set lighting, and we have a cocktail of essential workers to a project now out of work. We must not allow a computer program to take over and push humans aside and as humans, I do not think that we should give a computer that much control. We should all have the freedom to enjoy a prosperous life and have the ability to earn an income loving what we do to create content and not have that liberty taken away from us.
What do you wish more people knew about the realities of working as a hairstylist in the entertainment industry?
Cascio: The life of an on-set production hairstylist or makeup artist is not glamorous! We work in treacherous conditions and in most cases, dirt environments. We are exposed to extreme outdoor elements—heat and cold. Also, one has to be creatively strong enough to create an idea from somebody else’s mind, much like with AI. Besides being creative and talented in all aspects of your field, there is a lot of management experience that you need under your belt to manage your department in an unbiased manner. There is a lot of breaking down scripts as well as planning how many stunts you’re going to use and how many people to hire for a specific number of actors in a spectacular scene. It’s a lot to digest.
What changes do you hope to see happen for creatives working in the entertainment industry as a result of the writers’ strike?
Cascio: I would love to see all creative people get a salary raise—not just the writers and directors. We sometimes forget about the people that are below the line like hairstylists and makeup artists.
Editor’s Note: The majority of these interviews were conducted before SAG–AFTRA initiated its strike on July 14th, 2023.
All of the interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
