Negotiations Continue between WGA and Hollywood Studios as Writers Strike Reaches 144 Days
There is still no official word on whether a deal has been reached between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Hollywood studios as negotiations entered their fourth day on Friday. The talks have been closely watched by industry insiders, who are eager to see an end to the 144-day writers strike.
Insiders with knowledge of the negotiations have reported that there is momentum on both sides to find a resolution. The talks began at approximately 11 a.m. PT on Friday and have continued into the night.
According to reliable sources, both the WGA’s negotiation committee members and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) representatives are still in discussions at the table in Sherman Oaks. Additionally, four top entertainment CEOs, including Disney’s Bob Iger and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, have been present for the past three days.
It is understood that the four CEOs in the room held a call with their counterparts at other companies at some point on Friday.
The writers strike, which began on May 2, has had a significant impact on the entertainment industry. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined the picket lines on July 14 after failing to reach a new contract with the studios.
Some key points of contention between the WGA and AMPTP have been the inclusion of generative AI in the creative process, mini writers rooms, and streaming residuals. These disagreements have been major obstacles in reaching a new deal.
Negotiations resumed on September 20 after a month-long hiatus. However, on Thursday evening, last-minute issues emerged, causing further delays. Talks continued until about 7:30 p.m., with plans made to resume on Friday morning.
As both parties continue to negotiate, industry members are hopeful that a deal will be reached soon, bringing an end to the lengthy writers strike and allowing the entertainment industry to resume normal operations.