The ongoing scriptwriters strike could cost the Los Angeles economy upward of $21 million if it continues into next month, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. With television shows stopping production or preparing to in coming weeks, employment connected to the 65 situation comedies and dramas filmed in Los Angeles dries up costing 15,000 jobs and $21.3 million a day in direct spending, the Times reported, attributing the numbers to FilmL.A., the not for profit agency that coordinates on-location filming permits in the city and county. The estimate is based on the average number of employees on these shows, and their typical budgets and shooting cycles, the Times said. The 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of America began their work stoppage Nov. 5 after failing to coming to terms on a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The main sticking point between the two sides is over the amount of compensation writers receive when their work is distributed through the Internet, cell phones and mobile devices. On Tuesday, thousands of Guild members and supporters staged a march on Hollywood Boulevard.
