The Hollywood writers union has reached an agreement with the major studios and will continue their activities.
In early May 2023, the United States Screenwriters Union raised strike flags again over a disagreement over wages. After several months of negotiations, it was finally confirmed that a satisfactory financial agreement had been reached with the major studios; so the scriptwriters go back to their normal activities.
The writers’ union in the United States (Writers Guild of America) and the Alliance of Film and Television Producers have had a difficult few weeks, where they debated the income that writers should get for their work. Mainly because of the new trends in streaming and artificial intelligence. Therefore, after the agreements reached, the strike ended in the first minute of the morning this Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
“The WGA has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new three-year Minimum Basic Agreement. On September 26, the Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board and WGAE Council unanimously voted to recommend the agreement. It will now be submitted to a ratification vote by members of both unions. Eligible voters can vote from October 2 to 9 and receive ballot and ratification materials when voting opens. The writers’ union revealed in a statement.
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Writers’ strike ends; but the actors remain unemployed
And they added that the Board of the Writers Guild (West) and the Council of the Writers Guild (West) also voted to remove the restraining order. And thus end the strike starting at 12:01 on Wednesday, September 27.
“This allows the drafters to work again during the ratification process, but does not affect the right of the members to make a final decision to approve the contract.” They introduced.
It should be noted that one of the agreements in this new agreement indicates that artificial intelligence (AI) will not be able to write or rewrite literary material. And that scripts that said intelligence can write are not considered “original material.” Of course, scriptwriters can use artificial intelligence tools if the company agrees; but no company can require writers to use AI to do their creative work.
This negotiation is an improvement for the union and for the production companies, which can now proceed with new projects. However, to fully resume operations in Hollywood, the actors’ union, which has been on strike since mid-July, still needs to secure an adequate deal.
