WGA Pledges to Picket David Zaslav’s Boston University Commencement Speech

thewrap.com:

unable to reach a deal in contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The strike involves a long list of concerns that the writers want Hollywood studios to address, from the low pay involved in writing streaming series to reining in “mini-rooms” used to skirt contractual pay practices to addressing the use of artificial intelligence.According to BU Today, the initial announcement of Zaslav’s selection received “tepid applause” from students.

Additionally, the official announcement post on Instagram has been flooded with comments from disappointed alumni. “As a BU COM Alum and a member of the WGA, your choice to include Zaslav is beyond insulting,” one alumni wrote. “The “record growth” that you’re honoring him for was built upon the backs and laptops of the WGA.”Zaslav is one of eight CEOs who was singled out in a recent WGA infographic slamming Hollywood executives’ compensation packages for 2021.

According to a recent regulatory filing with the SEC, Zaslav took in $39.3 million in total compensation for 2022, down from $246.6 million in 2021 but up from $37.7 million in 2020 – which was narrowly approved by shareholders at the company’s annual meeting on Monday.“Zaslav is the last person BU should ask its graduating seniors to look up to.

Zaslav and other Hollywood CEOs are currently refusing to negotiate with striking writers in good faith. Before the strike, Zaslav laid off thousands of media and entertainment workers while personally earning $246 million in 2021 alone,” DSA-LA Hollywood Labor said in a statement on its Action Network page.