Hollywood writers strike sparks uncertainty for Canadian television crews
CTV
Last week's decision by the Writers Guild of America to drop their pens for picket signs sparked immediate uncertainty over the status of current and upcoming U.S.-based productions shot in Canada. Costume designer Patti Henderson says she is noticing a precipitous drop in Vancouver shoots that employ local crews.
Upon learning that a threatened Hollywood writers strike had indeed become reality, Vancouver costume designer Patti Henderson gave her department bracing advice: "Please don't go out and buy new cars ... No new clothes. Really, really be cautious about what you're spending."
Last week's decision by the Writers Guild of America to drop their pens for picket signs sparked immediate uncertainty over the status of current and upcoming U.S.-based productions shot in Canada, with Henderson noting a precipitous drop in Vancouver shoots that employ local crews.
Henderson, who says she's currently completing her final weeks on a Disney/Hulu series set to air in 2024, says jobs seemed to start drying up in the months leading up to the strike deadline. She knows of only four working shoots when typically there would be at least 40.
"There's literally nothing on our up-and-coming production list, if you will. And that's really hurting a lot of people out here," she says, noting it's especially hard on younger people just starting their careers.
Film commissioners in two of Canada's biggest production hubs also report a slowdown, with one pointing to a drop in the amount of applications for film permits in Vancouver and the other seeing less scouting activity in Toronto.
Toronto film commissioner Marguerite Pigott described it as "a temporary cooling effect."
"Productions have been slower and more cautious about green-lighting or triggering production, starting production, because they did not know whether or not they would be disrupted by the strike," says Pigott.
