No Talks Scheduled as Writers Guild and Studios Remain at a Standstill
Following a turbulent week of back-and-forth between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), negotiations between the two parties have come to a halt. Both sides have confirmed that no talks are currently scheduled, and there is no timetable for when negotiations will resume.
The standstill comes after the AMPTP recently released its first counteroffer since the strike began. The proposal, which includes improvements in residuals and protections against artificial intelligence, was met with criticism from the WGA. The union accused the studios of trying to “jam” them with an insufficient counteroffer.
In response, the WGA submitted its own counterproposal. This led to further negotiations and a meeting between WGA leaders and top executives from Disney, Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The union was informed that the Aug. 11 proposal would be the studios’ “first and only counteroffer” since the strike began in May.
The release of the AMPTP’s counteroffer was met with discontent among WGA members. Many criticized it as an “unforced error” and accused the studios of not fully addressing their concerns. However, the specifics of the WGA’s desired terms have not been made public since the strike began.
According to sources, the ball is now in the WGA’s court, and AMPTP President Carol Lombardini is not expected to allow the talks to remain stalled for long. It was originally planned for the studios to publicly present their offer to the WGA on Aug. 18, but the release was delayed due to the expectation that the union might consider the Aug. 11 proposal. The WGA dismissed the proposal, stating it was like “giving with one hand and taking back with the other.”
Barbs between the two sides began after a National Day of Solidarity event organized by SAG-AFTRA. Thousands of members from various unions gathered near Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to show support. The event featured speakers from the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, Teamsters, Directors Guild of America, and other unions.
As negotiations remain at a standstill, the future of the entertainment industry hangs in the balance. Both the WGA and the studios will need to find common ground in order to resolve the ongoing dispute and prevent further disruptions to the industry.