Moreover, the is increasingly scrutinized. The rise of “peak TV” and streaming has led to grueling production schedules, demands for visual effects artists to work “crunch” hours, and the contentious use of AI in scriptwriting and de-aging technology. The 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes were a direct response to the studio system’s new economics, specifically the erosion of residuals in the streaming era. Thus, popular entertainment studios find themselves at a crossroads: they are beloved for creating joy and wonder, yet reviled for the industrial conditions that produce it.
