The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have made some progress in their negotiations to end the writers strike that has been going on since May 2, 2023. The AMPTP has presented a counterproposal to the WGA, addressing some of the key issues that have led to the work stoppage. The two sides are expected to resume talks next week, with the hope of reaching a final agreement soon.
Writers Strike: Studios Offer New Deal to End Three-Month Standoff
What’s in the Counterproposal?
According to a statement from the AMPTP, the counterproposal includes the following provisions:
- A new formula for success-based residuals for streaming content, based on a percentage of the license fee paid by the streaming service. This would replace the current fixed-rate residuals that the WGA has criticized as inadequate and unfair.
- A minimum staffing level of six writers for scripted series with 13 or more episodes per season, and four writers for scripted series with fewer than 13 episodes per season. This would address the WGA’s concern about the use of “mini rooms” by streaming services, which hire fewer writers for shorter periods of time, resulting in lower income and less job security for writers.
- A guarantee of at least eight weeks of employment for writers hired on a weekly basis, and at least 20 weeks of employment for writers hired on a per-episode basis. This would provide more stability and predictability for writers who often face gaps and uncertainty in their work schedules.
- A commitment to negotiate with the WGA on the issue of artificial intelligence (AI), which the WGA has raised as a potential threat to writers’ creative rights and compensation. The AMPTP said it is willing to discuss how to protect writers from any negative impacts of AI on their work.
The AMPTP said that its counterproposal is “fair, reasonable, and responsive” to the WGA’s demands, and that it reflects “the unprecedented challenges and opportunities” facing the industry in the era of streaming.
How Did the WGA Respond?
The WGA issued a statement acknowledging that the AMPTP’s counterproposal is “a step forward” in the negotiations, but also noting that it falls short of meeting all of the WGA’s expectations. The WGA said that it will review the counterproposal carefully and prepare a response for the next meeting with the AMPTP.
The WGA also thanked its members and supporters for their solidarity and resilience during the strike, which has now surpassed 100 days, making it longer than the previous writers strike in 2007-08. The WGA said that it remains committed to fighting for a fair deal that reflects the value and dignity of writers.
What Does This Mean for Hollywood?
The resumption of talks between the WGA and the AMPTP is a positive sign that both sides are willing to compromise and find a solution to end the strike, which has had a significant impact on Hollywood’s production and revenue. The strike has delayed or halted numerous film and television projects, forced late-night talk shows into reruns, and postponed major events like the Emmy Awards.
However, there is still no guarantee that a deal will be reached soon, as there are still many details and issues to be resolved. The strike could continue for several more weeks or months, depending on how the negotiations go. In addition, there is still another strike going on by SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors who are also seeking better terms and conditions from the studios. There is no indication yet that SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP will resume talks anytime soon.
Therefore, Hollywood is still facing a lot of uncertainty and disruption as a result of the labor disputes. The industry is hoping that both strikes will end as soon as possible, so that it can resume its normal operations and recover from its losses.