WGA's writers' strike is over! After 148 days, the Writer's Guild of America ended its strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP). AMPTP represents Hollywood's studios, networks, and streaming platforms.
According to Reuters, Writers began the strike on May 2, demanding higher royalties, mandatory staffing of TV writing rooms, and safeguards to their jobs from the use of artificial intelligence. Part of the new agreement that was reached between WGOA and AMPTP reflects the following updates, according to Entertainment Weekly: "Artificial intelligence was one of the most heavily scrutinized issues on the bargaining table, and the WGA explains how the new contract protects writers from A.I. Under the new contract, A.I. cannot "be used to undermine a writer's credit or separated rights." Additionally, companies must inform writers if material has been generated by A.I., and if a company uses a writer's material to train A.I. models, the WGA is allowed to deem that training as unlawful. Writers also cannot be forced by their employers to use A.I."
Entertainment Weekly reports, "Another important issue on the table was streaming residuals, which had previously been notoriously difficult to come by for writers. Streaming services now must share statistics about streaming data with the WGA, and for shows and movies that are viewed by 20 percent of a streaming service's subscribers within 90 days, writers will be compensated with significant residual bonuses." The tentative update to the new agreement is available online.
However, Hollywood is not back in full swing just yet. SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) is still on strike while negotiating with AMPTM. According to Deadline, both entities will meet in October for negotiations. To follow this story and other news, click the link to become a Volume 82 site member.
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