After a gruelling five-month strike, Hollywood writers are finally returning to their desks. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents writers in the East and West Coasts, approved a contract agreement with major studios, streaming services, and production companies, effectively ending the strike.
Late-night talk shows are expected to resume first, as scripted shows may take longer due to the ongoing actors’ strike. The writers’ ratification vote on the contract is scheduled for early October, but they are permitted to work during this period.
The WGA leaders described the contract as “exceptional” and includes significant victories for the writers. These include increased compensation, guaranteed employment duration, increased staff sizes, and control over artificial intelligence (AI). The raise in pay varies between 3.5% and 5%, while new residual payments have been negotiated based on the popularity of streaming shows.
A notable aspect of the deal relates to AI. Raw AI-generated storylines will not be considered “literary material”, meaning writers won’t have to compete with computers for screen credits. The agreement also stipulates that companies cannot require a writer to use AI.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), who are still on strike, have been invigorated by this development. Marissa Cuevas, an actress known for her roles in “Kung Fu” and “The Big Bang Theory”, expressed hope that actors would also get a favourable deal, considering the writers’ triumph.
However, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), who negotiated with the writers, have yet to make any moves to resume talks with SAG-AFTRA.
In a new twist, actors have voted to potentially expand their strike to include the lucrative video game market, putting additional pressure on Hollywood studios. Issues such as wages, safety measures, and protections on the use of AI are common in both the film/TV and video game industries.
With the writers back at work, Hollywood can slowly start to recover from the impacts of the historic strike. However, the industry still has a long way to go as negotiations with actors continue and the potential video game strike looms large.
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