I’m a WGA member and writer: Palm Springs’ film industry is also impacted by strike
“Don’t Worry Darling” (2022), "Mission Impossible III" (2006), “Rain Man” (1988), “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971), “Sahara” (1943), even all the way back to “The Lone Star Ranger” (1919) – these works and hundreds of others all have two things in common: they were filmed in the Palm Springs area and they are the direct result of working writers like the ones currently on strike in the Writers Guild of America.
Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley have had a booming relationship with Hollywood for literally a century. Hollywood has shot here since before Hollywood had a Hollywood sign. And nearly all of it is scripted film and television, not unscripted or reality TV.
It’s estimated that every year the Palm Springs film industry pulls around $12 million directly into the Coachella Valley. And that money goes right to hiring local film crews, location scouts, hotel stays, catering and of course – local taxes.
Our area needs writers continuing to write and continuing to create works that highlight the many facets of the valley. The AMPTP (the group of movie & TV producers now holding up production) think they can ignore the WGA and pivot to more reality TV and less scripted content.
Thanks to their stonewalling, hit shows like “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Stranger Things,” “Abbott Elementary” and all the late-night shows have already halted production. And no one knows when or if they’re coming back.
American viewers lose, but bigwigs get to keep their executive pay sky-high.
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts got over $32 million last year. Both Netflix co-CEOs got over $50 million – each. Warner Brothers’ David Zaslav’s 2021 compensation package was $246.6 million. A quarter of a billion dollars.
In contrast, the WGA – the whole WGA, both coasts, roughly 20,000 members – is asking for a small fraction of what these companies spend in executive compensation.
That’s it. And then they can get right back to typing “EXT. - PALM SPRINGS - AN INSANELY BEAUTIFUL DAY.”
And we need the writers to get back to it soon. Otherwise, the execs will have their way and the only things shooting here in the Coachella Valley will be reality ideas like “Extreme Home Makeover: Golf Course Edition” and “Real Housewives of Cat City.”
There are lots of ways we can help our film industry. Get politicians to show support publicly, not just privately. Donate to striking writers at EntertainmentCommunityFund.org. Really, just talk to your neighbors about supporting the WGA Strike. Especially if your neighbor is David Zaslav.
The execs are hoping that time will pass and viewers will forget about the WGA. That viewers can wait a little longer for their shows to come back. That viewers don’t have a dog in the fight.
But for Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley’s film industry − every day that goes by is money that permanently stays out of our local economy.
So, support the WGA. Support the local film industry. And let’s make “Don’t Worry Darling 2: More Worrying.”
Eric Cunningham is a proud WGA member and Rancho Mirage resident. His email is cunningham.eric@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: I’m a WGA writer: Palm Springs’ film industry also impacted by strike
