<
https://fortune.com/2023/04/07/hollywood-economy-struggles-residual-checks-streaming-profit-cutbacks-writers-strike/>
"Actor Diana-Maria Riva is all too familiar with one of her shows being
canceled. For a performer, it’s a painful, unfortunate part of show business.
But this was different.
In December, Riva was floored when she found out that “Gordita Chronicles,” her
recently canceled family comedy, would be removed from HBO Max’s vast streaming
library — one of dozens of shows that HBO last year effectively wiped from
existence for U.S. viewers. Among others: “Westworld,” “The Time Traveler’s
Wife,” “Minx,” “Mrs. Fletcher” and numerous animated and reality series.
For Riva, the developments were crushing. Over 10 episodes, the critically
lauded series followed a plus-sized 12-year-old named Cucu as she and her
Dominican family adapt to life in 1980s Miami.
“It was as if somebody had broken up with you and then came back to remind you
a couple of weeks later that we’ve broken up,” says Riva, who played Cucu’s
mother. “It was already heartbreaking. But then it’s an added punch to just
say, ‘Now we’re going to wipe the evidence of you ever having been here.’”
As streamers face mounting pressure to save money, several have followed HBO’s
lead. Erasing original shows from their libraries can help streamers get tax
write-downs and, to a smaller extent, save on residual payments. But it brings
criticism that they are sidelining already marginalized voices and
shortchanging creatives out of already slimmer residual paychecks. These issues
have increased tension between executives and writers amid union contract
negotiations that started late last month and could lead to a significant work
stoppage this spring.
Streaming companies offer this defense: They never promised that shows would
live forever. In a hyper-competitive, changing market, they say, each streamer
is trying to balance ample offerings with sheer survival."
Via Frederick Wilson II.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
