Share

cover art for Will there be a Hollywood ending? why the writers are on strike

Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband & Geoff Lloyd

Will there be a Hollywood ending? why the writers are on strike

Season 1, Ep. 302
•

Hello! This week’s topic has all the ingredients of a great blockbuster: a tale of the underdog standing up to powerful big business, people fighting for their livelihoods, and ensuring the robots don’t take over the world…but this isn’t fiction, it’s real life. The Hollywood writers’ strike has been going on for almost two months now, as the writers of some of our favourite shows have taken to the picket lines in the name of fair pay, better conditions and regulation on AI. We speak to Lisa Holdsworth about what the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is asking for, to WGA members and screenwriters Simon Beaufoy and Alice Nutter, and to Gavin Mueller about how AI could devalue the work of writers.


Plus: It's sports day season...how's Geoff going to navigate his parental duties this year?


Guests

Lisa Holdsworth, TV and Theatre Writer and Chair of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (@WorksWithWords / @TheWritersGuild)


Simon Beaufoy and Alice Nutter, Screenwriters and Members of the Writers Guild of America (@alicenut1)


Gavin Mueller, Assistant Professor of New Media and Digital Culture at The University of Amsterdam and author of Breaking Things at Work (@gavinmuellerphd)


More information

Learn about the WGA's strike action and what they're asking for including how to support writers

Find out about the Writers' Guild of Great Britain (WGGB)

BBC News: The Full Monty's striking writers picket Sheffield premier of Disney+ reboot

Order Gavin's book Breaking Things at Work

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 25. CHATTEROO #23 WILL HUTTON - This Time No Mistakes

     27:54
    Political economist and writer, Will Hutton joins the Chatteroo to talk about his new book, 'This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain', and its parallels with his mid-90s bestseller, 'The State We're In'.Buy Will's book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/this-time-no-mistakes-9781804549407/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 24. CHATTEROO #22

     34:28
    Vegetarian escalope at the Paris Olympics, energy nerds, The Boring Phone, Mid TV and your correspondence.Join the Chatteroo! Email us with thoughts, questions and any fodder: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 23. CHATTEROO #21 England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight

     42:12
    Just in time for St George's Day, former Mili-gang members Marc Stears & Tom Baldwin join the Chatteroo to talk about their excellent new book 'England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight'Treat yourself to a copy - you deserve it! https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/england-9781526646231/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 22. CHATTEROO #20

     27:35
    Climate litigation in the 26 Cantons, the sense of smell in a digital world, Ed turns quizmaster, and your email.Throw us a chatty bone! What would you like to hear in the Chatteroo? chat@cheerfulpodcast.comPENGUINS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwDFddpo4cCAN A WILD ANIMAL MAKE YOUR HOUSE FEEL LIKE A HOME? https://science.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/can-wild-animal-make-your-house-feel-home?fbclid=PAAabIRLX2FP_IHykx-YjF75F2coLxbwYKDJv4U5NnMndw17bYa7qfcaQuxmQ_aem_AafVJaTzSreellMoKrLQZJrh5JYYNqpKYdJ7oZuPtj2iOQkJvm5zEvgI30s13GX9XTE

  • 21. CHATTEROO #19

     29:21
    We lament the passing of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and delve into the Chatteroo postbag.We'd love to hear from you - it's your Chatteroo, too: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 20. CHATTEROO #18 - Breaking The Habit(uation)

     54:10
    Neuroscientist and author Tali Sharot has joined the Chatteroo to talk about her excellent new book, 'Look Again - The Power of Noticing What Was Always There' (co-written with Cass R Sunstein.) It's the habituation sensation that's sweeping the nation.Email us! chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 19. CHATTEROO #17

     25:17
    Includes a Presidential belch, life lessons from toddlers, the grace of a giraffe, and the Village People.We need your email to fuel the Chatteroo! chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 18. CHATTEROO #16

     30:41
    The calm before the swarm, your email, and Ed shares his music lesson trauma.Email us! chat@cheerfulpodcast.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/14/theres-joy-i-havent-felt-for-years-how-i-got-hooked-on-the-piano-craze

  • 17. CHATTEROO #15

     35:04
    A flurry of email prompted by last week's episode, plus cheerful nuggets from John Kerry's New York Times exit interview, the age at which jeans become inappropriate, and an Oscars-themed quiz.Send us an email: chat@cheerfulpodcast.comJohn Kerry: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/opinion/john-kerry-climate-change-china.html