California Governor Gavin Newsom offered to be the mediator in negotiations between striking Hollywood unions and the studios.
Anthony York, Newsom's senior adviser for communications, told the Associated Press that the governor is “deeply concerned” about the impact the strikes could have on the state’s economy. He also said neither the studio executives nor SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America “have shown formal interest” in bringing in Newsom.
Kate Fortmueller, an associate professor of Film and Media History at Georgia State University, told KNX News’ Jon Baird that the Newsom’s offer won’t erase the tension between the unions and the studios.
“It carried weight in that it's expressing that this is a big deal, this is hurting the state economy but…I don’t think that it’s necessarily gonna get anyone back to the table sooner,” she said.
She added that both the writers, actors, and studios need to “cool down” before returning to the table.
“I think a mediator only works if people are willing to participate in a mediation,” she said.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger that would support small businesses impacted by the strikes by “connecting them to programs and services that can keep them in business.”
The board also approved a motion in which a letter would be sent to the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers, urging them to return to the negotiation table.
“The people who power Los Angeles are on strike and deserve a fair deal,” Horvath said in a statement. “Instead of returning to the negotiating table, the (AMPTP) strategy is to inflict pain, causing people to lose their housing and livelihoods, with the futures of small businesses also on the line.”
The motion echoed the resolution that the board approved for the Writers Guild of America in June.
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