Just hours after the expiration of a midnight deadline to reach an agreement with major Hollywood studios on a new contract, thousands of striking members of the Writers Guild of America set down their pens, stepped away from their laptops and took their fight to the streets.
Forming picket lines outside more than a dozen studios and production facilities in Los Angeles and New York, including the headquarters of Netflix and Amazon Studios, writers hoisted placards and chanted in unison to demand what they regard as fair compensation and improved working conditions in an industry that has been upended by streaming.
A grid of signs from writers picketing outside CBS Radford Studio Center.
(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Mark Rozeman, a writer, displays a Baby Yoda doll while striking with other members of the Writers Guild of America outside of NBCUniversal offices in Universal City.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Joe Henderson, left, a writer and showrunner, helps himself to a doughnut while striking with other members of the Writers Guild of America outside of NBCUniversal offices in Universal City.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Writers Guild of America members Joshua Allen Griffith, right, and Brent Fletcher walk near a rainbow at Sony Pictures Entertainment, the former MGM lot where “The Wizard of Oz” was filmed, in Culver City.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Members of the Writers Guild of America strike in front of NBCUniversal offices in Universal City.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Writer Saroya Whatley strikes with other members of the Writers Guild of America in front of NBCUniversal offices in Universal City.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
On Day 3 of the writers’ strike, a large group of members picket in front of the Paramount Studios gate in Los Angeles.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Sara Schunck yells and raises a fist while walking the picket line with Writers Guild of America members in front of Warner Bros. Studio on the third day of the strike in Burbank.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
WGA members walk the picket line in front of Warner Bros. Studio on the third day of the writers’ strike in Burbank.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Writers Guild of America members walk the picket line on the second day of their strike in front of Fox Studios.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Traffic on West Pico Boulevard passes by Writers Guild of America members picketing on the second day of their strike.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
A billboard for the Netflix show “The Diplomat” on a building across the street from the picket line.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
WGA members walk a picket line around the Bronson Sunset Studios lot.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
WGA members walk the picket line on the second day of their strike in front of Fox Studios.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
WGA members walk the picket line on the second day of their strike in front of Fox Studios in Hollywood.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Actor and writer Daheli Hall joins WGA members on Tuesday, the first day of the strike, in front of Paramount Studios in Hollywood.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Sunset Bronson Studios WGA members picket Tuesday around the Bronson Sunset Studios lot, where Netflix leases space for production and offices.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
People inside the Sunset Bronson Studios hand bottles of water to striking Writers Guild of America workers on May 2.
(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Striking Writers Guild of America workers picket outside the Sunset Bronson Studios on May 2.
(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Amazon Studios WGA members picket in front of Amazon Studios in Culver City.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Writers Guild of America members walk the picket line on the first day of their strike in front of Amazon studios in Culver City.
(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Paramount Studios WGA members acknowledge cars that honk to show support.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Kyra Jones joins the picket line in front of Paramount Studios.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
WGA Board Member Ashley Gable waves at cars.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
WGA members turn in their signs in front of Paramount Studios at the end of the first day of the strike.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
CBS Television City Actor Gregory Pekar joins a picket line outside CBS Television City in the Fairfax district.
(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Sony Pictures Writers in front of Sony Pictures.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Warner Bros. Studios A picket line outside of Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.
(Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
Disney Studios Workers picket at Disney Studios in Burbank.
(Eric Thayer / Getty Images)