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Writers Are On Strike In The US: Habibi, Come To SAUDI!

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Neom

If you’re a subscriber to Netflix, OSN, Apple, Disney + or any of the streaming giants, the strikes ongoing in the states are likely to affect you.

What’s happening? The largest union actor and strike in over six decades is happening right now in Hollywood. Writers and actors which sum to over 200,000 people are walking off sets and red carpets; snubbing promo duties for picket lines to demand better working conditions, more pay, an increase in royalties, and regulation on the use of AI. The rise of streaming services meant writers can no longer rely on profits from shows being watched, rewatched, and resold. Streaming Services pay once, and they don’t pay based on viewership. The strikes aim to change this.

Big-budget flicks like Avatar and Gladiator which are currently in production could be affected and your fave TV show might simply stop running. Strikes have touched the industry over the years, but this is the biggest and potentially the most damaging strike to date.

Maybe, Hollywood doesn’t have the answer

Footballers moving to Saudi have been dominating headlines. With big pay packets, and the opportunity to dominate the Saudi football league, The Kingdom enticed football GOAT Ronaldo, among others. Rondalo and his family officially moved to Saudi at the beginning of 2023, and they are regularly spotted out and about in Riyadh, videos of Ronaldo’s kids speaking Arabic go viral and the family is the proof that a move to an unfamiliar territory may not be so unfamiliar after all.

 

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Middle East backdrops are no stranger to Hollywood budgets

The region is welcoming blockbuster productions with open arms. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning opened in Abu Dhabi to much fanfare. Lead actor Tom Cruise dazzled the UAE Capital with a visit, thanking the city for making the complex movie possible; along with providing stellar backdrops, the movie benefitted from Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s 30 % cash rebate, which is a boon for budget-conscious producers.

Apple TV’s recent thriller Hijack also used Dubai scenes for the show starring Idris Elba and Gran Turismo, starring Orlando Bloom, features Dubai and comes out this year.

Saudi is backing local and foreign talent and could be the next step for big players

Gerard Butler’s thriller Kandahar was shot in Al Ula and Jeddah, Netflix thriller The Matchmaker, was shot in Al Ula, and Neom is the set for a highly anticipated new action thriller Riverman.

The Hollywood Report recently posed the question, ‘Can Saudi Arabia Become a World-Class Shooting Destination?’. According to the report, purpose-built studios and on-set accommodations for cast and crew will soon be available in AlUla, which will make ‘shooting sand dunes, desert oases, rocky outcrops and ancient ruins’ a whole lot easier. Luxury boutique hotels are also on the rise in Al Ula and Neom meaning big names celebs will feel right at home.

The film scene in Saudi is going from strength to strength. Driven by the Saudi Film Commission which is backing talent locally and abroad through various support programs and financial incentives, such as the Film Sector Financing Programme, and it’s working, according to Variety which documented the rise in Saudi film. And regional talent continues to emerge thanks to initiatives like the annual Red Sea International Film Festival which hosted 40 Saudi productions in 2022.

Has Hollywood lost its sparkle?

The building blocks are in place and a Tinseltown deflect could be imminent – When actors and writers look elsewhere for support, they’ll be in good company if they choose Saudi

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