The launch of Warner Bros. Discovery’s new merged Max streaming service last month encountered some challenges. However, the decision to categorize writers, directors, and other creatives as “creators” has been the most frustrating for the creative community. This labeling erases the individual roles of the members and has drawn criticism from the Writer’s Guild of America. Despite initial promises that the changes would be made within weeks, the service has yet to address this issue.
It is particularly concerning because HBO Max, the predecessor of Max, acknowledged the individual roles of creatives on its credits page. Whether it’s a classic show like “Eastbound & Down” or a current series like “The Last of Us” or “The Idol,” the series creators are wrongly grouped together with the executive producers, without any clarification.
An example of this is seen with “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which premiered on Max on June 7, but still lists James Cameron, the director and main writer and producer, fourth in the credits. This lack of action and unwillingness to update credits for new titles is frustrating. There is a lack of urgency on Max’s part.
What Do WGA Members Have to Say About the Continued “Creators” Debacle?
The slow response from Max has garnered criticism from WGA members, including Shawn Wines, one of the union’s captains, who expressed frustration on Twitter. Emmy nominee Liz Hannah, known for her work on “The Dropout” and “Mindhunter,” also questioned Max’s lack of action. This, along with David Zaslav’s resistance to the WGA’s demands during the writer’s strike and the sudden removal of series and films by Warner Bros. Discovery, has tarnished Max’s reputation among creatives.
The continued display of disrespect towards writers is occurring while they are already striking for fair wages that reflect rising inflation and changes in the industry. Writers want proper compensation and acknowledgement for their contributions throughout the entire creative process. They are also seeking protection from A.I., as seen in Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” series, which utilized an A.I.-generated opening sequence. While the Director’s Guild of America reached an agreement with the AMPTP, the Screen Actors Guild could potentially go on strike, which could exacerbate the situation further.
For more information on the writer’s strike and its implications, Collider’s Therese Lacson and Mike Muney have provided a comprehensive write-up. Stay tuned for updates on the strike and how the Max service will respond.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
