All Work And No Pay: Do Creatives Really Get The Short End Of The Stick?

People in creative industries often experience being lowballed by employers, mainly because it's hard to put a value on their time and work. With the rise of Al, are livelihoods even further at stake? It's not all bad news, some experts say.

- SASHA GONZALES

In May, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) embarked on a strike to demand better pay and working conditions for its members, made up of writers and actors. Among their central demands and concerns: increasing the number of writers staffed to shows, tightening regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) on creative projects, and higher compensation and increased job security - particularly since streaming services have exploded, and the only ones who seem to be reaping the profits are the shows' producers and network CEOs.

Months later, the strike is still ongoing, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. With more than 150,000 WGA members having walked off the job, many hit TV shows, including Stranger Things, Euphoria and Saturday Night Live, have paused production.

Such strikes aren't new - the creative field has long been seen as a breeding ground for exploitation. Writers, actors, artists, and other creatives are more likely than other professions to be unfairly compensated for their work. According to employment website Indeed.com, the average monthly salary for writers in Singapore is $3,184, and for actors, $3,589. Compare that to lawyers and data scientists, whose average monthly salaries are $7,924 and $7,527, respectively.

Creatives tend to be exploited in other ways too. For instance, songwriters for movies or shows on streaming platforms may not be given the copyright to their music, effectively denying them from receiving any future royalties. Creatives like illustrators, writers, musicians and photographers are sometimes even asked to contribute their ideas and labour for free, for "exposure".