Title: Hollywood Negotiations Continue as Writers Guild of America Considers Latest Counter-Offer
Subtitle: Talks in progress to end the 109-day-long writers’ strike
In a bid to put an end to the ongoing writers’ strike that has wreaked havoc on the entertainment industry, Hollywood’s top companies and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) recently concluded negotiations. However, the two sides will reconvene next week to discuss the studios’ latest counter-offer.
The WGA negotiating committee informed its members that the studios had responded to their proposals in all work areas on Friday, August 11. Both parties have continued to exchange proposals throughout the week, with further meetings scheduled for the following week.
Co-chaired by Chris Keyser and David Goodman, the WGA negotiating committee expressed gratitude to members for their support and solidarity, while cautioning them against spreading rumors from third parties. The committee reassured its members that it would communicate significant updates when necessary.
Prior to the Friday meeting, the studios and the WGA had already met on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. According to sources from the studio side, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) offered a response to the guild’s most recent counter-offer, awaiting the WGA’s response. Further details about the progress of the negotiations were not available at the time of this article’s publication.
Optimism is now in the air from the management side, as talks are deemed to be moving forward despite not reaching a breakthrough point yet. Executives have noted an increased positive momentum this week compared to the previous week.
Meanwhile, the 2023 writers’ strike has now entered its 109th day, making it nine days longer than the WGA’s last strike in 2007-08. The economic impact of the previous strike was significant, with an estimated cost of $2.1 billion to the California economy. Alongside a strike called by SAG-AFTRA in July, the ongoing strike has halted union-contracted scripted U.S. productions, delayed release dates for numerous titles, and put a stop to star promotions of upcoming projects.
Both sides remain committed to working towards a resolution, as the industry anxiously waits for an agreement to be reached. However, until then, the strike continues, impacting the industry at large.
(Additional reporting by Lesley Goldberg)