The Hollywood double-attack is about to enter its third full week, but with no sign of reconciliation in sight, the debate rages on over dispute resolution and the acquisition of thousands of actors, writers, and actors. It’s turning to the role that buses can play–if there is one. Others return to work.

It was the first time since 1960 that labor unions representing Hollywood’s writers and actors went on strike together. The aftermath has hit an industry still reeling from the pandemic and struggling to reset for the streaming age.

Writers went on strike on May 2, and SAG-AFTRA, a performers’ union with 160,000 members, joined the picket line in mid-July to freeze production on the few remaining scripts. It has painfully increased the economic burden on the city as a whole.

The cast of Hollywood’s Hard Summer Labor is filled with villains and star-born monologues.But he’s the hero who can lead the Guild and Studio through a bitter valley to a happy ending. has not yet appeared.

In the leadership vacuum, some Guessed Bass could act as an arbitrator. In an industry known for its egos, the mayor’s decidedly less flashy style could be a boon, and she’s long been known as a coalition builder.

But for now, the general consensus seems to be that she remains a backdrop for Hollywood’s current dramas.

“We are discussing the economic situation and changes within the industry with the members of the WGA who have spoken to me about working conditions, as well as studio executives,” Bass said last week, but declined to comment further. her role.

The mayor met with members of the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, the Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and studio representatives, and continued to address “labor leaders, studio directors, elected leaders, and others.” We are continuing our dialogue with affected parties. Her publicist Zach Seidle said Thursday.

Several Hollywood luminaries from various sectors of the industry said they hadn’t heard, at least for now, that the mayor had treaded the quagmire in any meaningful way.

Representatives for the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.

It is not uncommon for mayors of large cities to become involved in, and in some cases mediate, labor disputes that have far-reaching implications for the local economy.

4 months ago, bass helped broker a deal An agreement was reached between the Los Angeles Unified School District and the union representing school support staff to prevent further campus closures, earning enthusiastic praise from both sides.Former Mayor Eric Garcetti assumed a similar role During the 2019 teachers strike.

However, Hollywood labor disputes have historically been handled in-house, with little influence or assistance from Los Angeles City Hall.

In 2007, near the start of the last writers’ strike, then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa offered mediation. was denied By Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance. Writers and producers also resolved their disagreements during the 1988 writers’ strike without the involvement of then-mayor Tom Bradley.

The growing and painful economic crisis spreading from the region’s most famous industry is a clear concern for the city’s chief executives. But Bass, who has focused on homelessness since taking office, also finds himself in a difficult position.

Despite the serious repercussions in her city, Bass has no authority to control the situation or pull any particular lever beyond the bully’s pulpit of the office. Unlike school strikes, employers here are mostly multinationals. And some of the major studios aren’t even within city limits.

Other politicians, including legislators, state legislators, and a significant number of city council members, also frequently join the picket line and fully support the impressive actors and writers. Bass has come under fire, especially online, for not taking a similar stance.

“The mayor hears from both sides that it is in the best interests of the mayor to remain in a position to convene all parties when necessary to reach a just and equitable solution,” said Seidl. It seemed to hint at the possibility of a person. It will play a role in the future.

Some would argue that there is little political advantage to having a bus insert in public during moments of relative numbness.

both sides remain Opinions are very divided on important issues, AI technology and leftovers on streaming platforms, there is no clear indication when negotiations with either guild will resume. Summer Dog Day is also historically a quiet time for Hollywood, as power brokers take extended vacations and the pace of closing deals slows.

UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong said, “The challenge is that mayors are more likely to consider input when they are fully aware that their interventions will have a significant impact.” Stated.

“In a situation where there is a huge gap between what employers are offering and what unions are asking for, it becomes very difficult for mayors to step in to make miracles happen.”

The former six-term Los Angeles Congressman certainly has deep ties to Hollywood, but it’s unclear just how close she is to current guild and studio leaders.

Disney CEO Bob Iger and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav were invited to their inaugural addresses in April, but neither attended. (Zaslav donated $1,500 to Bath’s mayoral campaign, but Iger didn’t donate to either of the two candidates in the campaign.)

During the 2022 campaign, funding came in from all quarters of the entertainment industry.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks SKG and former chairman of Walt Disney Studios, has been Bass’ biggest financial backer so far. About $1.85 million has been poured to an independent committee to support her campaign. The committee also received $125,000 from Patti Quillin, wife of Netflix co-founder and executive chairman Reed Hastings.

Writers and actors from film and television donated about $200,000 directly to Bass’s campaign, according to campaign finance records. Many also took to their platforms to endorse her candidacy, headline events and spread her story on social media.

Gavin Newsom, who also has close political and personal ties to actors, writers and studio executives and has pursued similar policies to Bass in recent weeks, has offered to intervene in negotiations to resolve the conflict. ing.

“If both sides want it, he’s willing to work with it. At this point, it’s not our position,” said Newsom spokesman Anthony Yorke. “Having said that, he is, of course, concerned about the impact of the prolonged stalemate on the local and state economy, as tens of thousands of people depend on the entertainment industry for their livelihoods.”

The governor and his senior staff continue to engage with industry stakeholders on all fronts, the governor’s office said.

Taryn Luna, a Times staff writer in Sacramento, contributed to the report.