Writers Guild of America and Studios Set Meeting Date Amid Strike
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and major studios and streamers have finally agreed to sit down for negotiations on August 4th. This announcement comes after weeks of the WGA being on strike due to failed contract talks back in May.
In a statement to its members, the WGA negotiating committee revealed that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) had reached out to request a meeting. The location of the meeting has not been disclosed.
The AMPTP, which negotiates on behalf of major entertainment companies, also expressed their commitment to finding mutually beneficial deals with both unions. The other union in question is SAG-AFTRA, which also went on strike after their three-year contract expired.
The strike has been ongoing for approximately 14 weeks, with the WGA citing issues such as viewership-based residuals, regulation of artificial intelligence, and minimum staffing numbers as major points of contention. On the other hand, the AMPTP has pushed back on the WGA’s demands, labeling the AI issue as requiring further discussion and stating that the minimum staffing proposal is incompatible with the creative nature of the industry.
While the WGA and AMPTP prepare to meet, there have been developments with other unions. The Directors Guild of America (DGA) recently ratified an agreement with employers, addressing some overlapping issues with the WGA such as restrictions on AI and a new formula for foreign residuals.
As the industry grapples with these labor disputes, it is clear that finding common ground and reaching fair agreements will be a challenge. The meeting on August 4th marks the first step in a long process to bring the two sides together and hopefully end the strike.