I know people are hoping that this strike will show the power of unions and encourage others to unionize in a similar manner... but what if they fail? Wouldn't that demonstrate the opposite? It feels like hollywood is on the precipice of a gig economy. There is always someone waiting in the wings to do the same for less. I think big name actors are a function of branding, you roughly know what you're getting with a Tom Cruise or a Ryan Reynolds movie, which makes the money spent on them more of a marketing expense than an acting expense. There are other ways to create and maintain brands.

I think if people believe they are owed more than someone is willing to pay them should instead compete. Maybe make an actor owned studio / production company? There are already quite a few of them and it does appear to be a growing trend. I hit a ceiling in my own compensation and had to instead create my own software company in order to capture more of the value that I create.