As the actors and writers’ continue in Los Angeles, California, where temperatures are soaring, a row has erupted over trees that have been hacked right back just outside Universal Studios.
NBC Universal, the studio’s owners, have denied deliberately attempting to make conditions for those striking tougher.
As, both WGA (Writers Guild of ) and Sag-Aftra (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) members have been publicly demonstrating outside the offices and lots of all the major studios, which they claim aren’t giving creatives a fair deal.
They have also called off all promotional work for studio projects, including giving interviews, and any related press activities.
The US actors’ union represents 160,000 TV and movie actors, and , they joined (since May) in walking out of sets across the world last week.
For both sets of creatives, the argument centres around concerns over the threat of AI in reducing jobs as well as the as residuals in the streaming era.
However, on Wednesday it emerged that the Los Angeles city controller’s office is investigating the stark trimming of tree branches on Barham Boulevard – which were previously busy Ficus trees – after striking writers previously complained their shade had been compromised.
‘Quick shoutout to the good people at @UniversalPics for trimming the trees that gave our picket line shade right before a 90+ degree week,’ tweeted striking writer and sketch group member Chris Stephens on Monday.
According to , trees on the other side of the road and those behind the fence near the production gate, remained untouched.
‘It’s just been very frustrating, trying to get people to come out here and picket these gates,” on-site striker, producer Deric A. Hughes, who is also on the WGA Board of Directors, told the publication.
‘It’s just very suspect. If this was done by the city, why didn’t they trim the trees on that side?’
However, Universal Studios’ owner, NBC Universal, has denied targeting the strikers and making their outdoor conditions more difficult.
‘We understand that the safety tree trimming of the Ficus trees we did on Barham Blvd has created unintended challenges for demonstrators, that was not our intention. In partnership with licensed arborists, we have pruned these trees annually at this time of year to ensure that the canopies are light ahead of the high wind season,’ a Universal spokesperson told Metro.co.uk.
They added: ‘We support the WGA and Sag’s right to demonstrate and are working to provide some shade coverage. We continue to openly communicate with the labour leaders on-site to work together during this time.’
LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who provided before and after pictures of the tress in question outside Universal Studios, shared to social media on Wednesday: ‘Our Office is investigating the tree trimming that occurred outside Universal Studios where workers, writers, and actors are exercising their right to picket. The trimmed trees are LA city managed street trees.’
He also explained in separate posts on a thread that ‘public works agency StreetsLA are responsible for tree maintenance’ but businesses could also ‘obtain a permit to trim a tree’.
that ‘with cooperation from the Bureau of Street Services, we have found that no tree trimming permits have been issued over the last three years for this location outside Universal Studios’.
He also claimed that the findings showed the City had not issued any permits for the latest trimming.
Many celebrities have been spotted protesting, including Hilary Duff, Kevin Bacon and Susan Sarandon.
Metro.co.uk has contacted NBC Universal for further comment.
