The striking Hollywood writers are expected to deliver their response this week to the latest contract proposition put forth by the major studios, according to two informed sources.
One of these insiders revealed that the negotiating team representing the Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) dedicated the weekend to assessing the proposal submitted by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). This trade association represents key players such as Walt Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, and other major studios and streaming platforms.
Sources, who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of the negotiations, indicated that both parties might reconvene for discussions during this week. This marks a resumption after around 100 days of no talks.
Additionally, a separate source disclosed that the studios have offered a concession on one contentious aspect: the utilization of artificial intelligence. The studios have now agreed to ensure human writers receive credit on scripts involving AI. A Bloomberg report citing unnamed insiders also conveyed that companies have consented to share viewer data, which would enable writers to gauge the popularity of their series.
The writers initiated their strike on May 2 in response to a deadlock concerning compensation, minimum staffing requirements in writers’ rooms, residual payments, and other issues. Their picket lines gained support on July 16 from members of the Screen Actors Guild, effectively halting a significant portion of film and television production.
Those well-acquainted with the particulars of the studios’ proposal chose to withhold specific details.
The AMPTP had previously rejected the Writers’ Guild’s call for a mandatory staffing quota in writers’ rooms, labeling it as a “hiring quota.” The writers had put forth suggestions to limit the application of generative artificial intelligence, a topic that the studios deemed necessitated “further extensive deliberation.”
During recent corporate earnings calls, studio executives emphasized their desire for a swift resolution to the ongoing labor unrest.
