Negotiators for SAG-AFTRA and studio executives are reportedly close to finalizing a deal to end the 113-day strike. Both sides are awaiting responses on counter-proposals, with the use of artificial intelligence being a sticking point. The strike has taken a toll on members, with job losses and personal hardships. While hopeful for a resolution, SAG-AFTRA urges unity until a final agreement is reached.
Donna Langley, NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman & chief content officer, stated that the studio side is committed to spending "as much time as it takes" in negotiations with SAG-AFTRA until a resolution is reached. Langley expressed concern about the potential impact of a lingering strike on the studio's summer film slate and the industry as a whole. The ongoing strike has lasted nearly three months, with studio leaders such as Langley, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, and Disney CEO Bob Iger participating in negotiations. Both sides still have several issues to work through, including revenue sharing for streaming projects and AI regulations.
The months-long writers' strike in Hollywood may be coming to an end as top studio executives engage in high-level talks with the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Negotiations have been scheduled for Thursday after a significant thaw in relations between the two sides. The strike, which began in May, has been fueled by disputes over pay, working conditions, job security, and concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence. The WGA represents 11,000 writers in film and television and has demanded increased pay and job security guarantees. The strike coincided with declining profits in the media and entertainment sectors due to intense competition in the streaming space.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) issued a rare joint statement after renewing negotiations. Top entertainment company leaders, including Disney CEO Bob Iger and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, joined the talks, signaling a new sense of urgency. The meeting ended on Wednesday afternoon, and all four executives are set to return to the bargaining table on Thursday. This marks a return to negotiations after a standstill in August, with the AMPTP publicly releasing a proposal and the writers criticizing the CEOs' counteroffer.
Top studio executives, including Ted Sarandos of Netflix, David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, Donna Langley of Universal Pictures, and Robert A. Iger of Disney, joined negotiations between the Hollywood writers' union and major entertainment companies, marking the first formal bargaining session in a month. Talks were described as encouraging, and both sides agreed to meet again on Thursday. The strike, now in its fifth month, is on track to become the longest writers' walkout ever, with the union arguing for improved pay and working conditions in the streaming era. The strikes have already cost California's economy over $5 billion.
Studio executives, including Bob Iger and David Zaslav, attempted to pressure the Writers Guild of America (WGA) into accepting a deal that the union deemed insufficient. The WGA has been on strike for over 100 days, and recent negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have not yielded positive results. The studios' counteroffer included restrictions on AI-generated writing, quarterly reports on streaming viewership, and wage rate increases, among other provisions. The WGA criticized the counteroffer for failing to address their core concerns and accused the studios of attempting to divide and weaken the union. The WGA remains committed to achieving a fair resolution that protects the rights and well-being of its members.
Oscar-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman criticizes Hollywood studio executives for their high pay and cost-cutting practices, arguing that they prioritize profit over the art of filmmaking. Kaufman believes that studio heads do damage to the art form and humanity by focusing solely on the bottom line. He also expresses concern about the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in the creative industry, warning that it could lead to the end of human creativity. Kaufman supports the Writers Guild's proposal to prevent consolidation in the streaming marketplace and calls for a more diverse landscape that is not controlled by a few studio giants.
