Executive producer/screenwriter Dorothy Fortenberry ("The Handmaid's Tale," "Extrapolations") on why the WGA strike matters to everyone whose profession might ever become just another gig
When the Writers Guild of America strike began in early May of 2023, screenwriter, playwright and essayist Dorothy was in the middle of promoting an Apple TV+ mini-series titled \u201cExtrapolations,\u201d on which she\u2019d worked as executive producer and writer. As a result, she had to cancel all appearances relating to the show, which was especially disappointing to her given that it was the first major scripted TV show about climate change.\xa0Instead, she braved the blistering heat of summer in Burbank, CA and started walking the picket lines.Dorothy\u2019s TV producing and writing credits also include the acclaimed Hulu series \u201cThe Handmaid\u2019s Tale\u201d and \u201cThe 100\u201d for the CW network. Her work on \u201cThe Handmaid\u2019s Tale\u201d earned her not only multiple Emmy nominations but also a Producers Guild Award as well as a Writers Guild Award. Her plays have been performed all over the country, including at the sadly now-defunct Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, KY; IAMA Theatre in Los Angeles; and the Red Fern Theatre Company in New York City.Here she describes how in 15 years streaming channels went from being a writer\u2019s playground to an ever more precarious means to earn a basic living. She also explains why the current strike is crucial not only for Writers Guild members but also any worker whose profession is in danger of ever becoming just another gig.\xa0\ufeff