Topline
Hollywood writers and studios agreed to a tentative deal Sunday, setting the stage for the end of a nearly five month long strike—one of Hollywood’s longest work stoppages in decades—triggered by demands of better pay, residuals from streaming platforms and concerns over the use of artificial intelligence.
Members of WGA cheer at the end of their picket in front of CBS Television City on Sunday.
Key Facts
The Writer’s Guild of America said a tentative Minimum Basic Agreement has been reached and the deal “is exceptional—with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”
In its statement, the guild hailed its members, saying the deal was a result of the “leverage generated by your strike.”
The tentative deal is for a three year contract agreement and it was reached after five days of talks between the writers union and the studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Details of the deal have not yet been made public, as the final contract language is still being drafted, but the final deal will have to be voted on and ratified by the union’s leadership and its members.
The strike will officially remain in effect until the final approval of the deal, although the WGA said it has suspended picketing of the studios.
Big Number
146. That is the total number of days the WGA strike has lasted so far, making the longest work stoppage by the Hollywood writers since the 1988 WGA strike which lasted 153 days.
Key Background
The nearly 11,500 member WGA began its strike in May as the writers demanded a revised compensation structure, complaining that the existing one had been upended severely by the studio’s pivot towards streaming. The writers also flagged concerns about the use of AI for writing scripts calling for a ban on its use for writing or rewriting “literary material,” and preventing the training of AI models using material written by the guild’s writers. The WGA strike was followed by SAG-AFTRA strike in July over similar concerns about residual payments and the use of AI. The dual strikes are Hollywood’s most widespread work stoppage in more than six decades.
Crucial Quote
In a statement issued on Twitter the striking actor’s union SAG-AFTRA wrote: “To our fellow union siblings…we extend our heartfelt congratulations on securing a tentative agreement with the AMPTP…We applaud your dedication, diligence and unwavering solidarity over the last five months and are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as creative partners in the entertainment industry.”
Tangent
While the WGA has suspended picketing of the studios it encouraged its members to “to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week,” if they are able to.
Further Reading
Writers Guild Reaches Tentative Agreement With Studios and Streamers (The Hollywood Reporter)
‘Dancing With The Stars’ May Face Delay After Celebrity Drops Out Amid Writers’ Strike—As Public Pressure Leads Other Shows To Shutter (Forbes)
Drew Barrymore Backtracks: Talk Show Paused Until Hollywood Strikes End After Union Criticism (Forbes)