Hollywood Writers and Studios Reach Tentative Deal After 5-Year Standoff

Culture

Hollywood writers reach a tentative deal with studios after nearly five-month strike

After almost five months of striking, Hollywood screenwriters have reached a tentative deal with major studios. If ratified, this agreement will bring an end to one of the strikes that has paralyzed the entertainment industry. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) described the deal as “exceptional,” citing meaningful gains and protections for writers in all sectors of the membership.

The details of the contract and voting process

The final contract details have not yet been made public, and union members will have to vote on the agreement. Until the contract is finalized, the strike will continue, and writers are not to return to work. The union has also announced the suspension of picketing activities, while encouraging members to support striking actors in the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union.

The strike, which began 146 days ago, involved 11,500 members of the WGA against major studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. During the strike, the two sides met only once, and the meeting reportedly did not go well, with writers accusing studio executives of lecturing them.

The bargaining sessions and studios‘ eagerness to end the strike

The bargaining sessions that led to the tentative agreement saw the unusual presence of high-ranking studio executives, including Disney CEO Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, and Universal Pictures Chief Content Officer Donna Langley. This move highlighted studios‘ eagerness to resume normal operations, as the strike has already resulted in the postponement of numerous film and series premieres.

The demands and concerns of screenwriters

The strike revolved around screenwriters‘ demands for higher pay and residuals for their work when it is rerun on streaming services. They also requested a residual formula based on viewership numbers on streaming platforms. Meanwhile, executives expressed concerns about their profits and cited previous staff layoffs. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon were hesitant to disclose viewership data.

Furthermore, screenwriters called for guaranteed staffing levels for television series and expressed concerns about the new streaming model. They particularly criticized the use of “mini rooms,” where individual writers are hired remotely on a speculative basis without any guarantees. The WGA argued that eliminating traditional “writer’s rooms” on TV series hindered continuity in storylines and character development, as well as restricted newer writers from gaining experience as “showrunners” who oversee production.

Protection of writer’s work and artificial intelligence

The studios reportedly agreed to some demands aimed at protecting writers‘ work from artificial intelligence (AI) involvement in the writing process. In an earlier counteroffer, the AMPTP suggested banning written material produced by generative AI software, stating that it would not be considered “literary material” or “source material.”

Incomplete resolution: The ongoing strike by actors

While the screenwriters have made progress with their tentative deal, actors in the SAG-AFTRA union continue their strike, which began in July. They have been waiting for the AMPTP to return to negotiations regarding their new agreement.

This strike in Hollywood has had a significant impact on the industry, affecting production timelines and leaving many workers uncertain about their livelihoods. The resolution of the writers‘ strike is a positive step towards a more stable future, but attention must now shift to addressing the concerns of actors and ensuring a fair and sustainable industry for all stakeholders.

Keywords: Hollywood, writers, studios, deal, tentative, five-month standoff