Hollywood Writers End Longest Strike in WGA History
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has officially ended its five-month strike, just five days shy of breaking the record for the longest strike in the organization’s history. In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the WGA announced that writers could resume their duties starting after midnight local time.
Tentative Agreement Reached
The union reached a “tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA” (Master Basic Agreement), which means that they have agreed in principle on all deal points, pending the drafting of final contract language.
The details of the agreement were disclosed on Tuesday. The writers secured significant concessions in areas such as residual payments for shows on streaming services, enhanced transparency regarding viewership statistics for platforms like Netflix, and set minimums for writers in pre-development “mini rooms.”
Guidelines on AI Use
The agreement also introduces clear guidelines regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in screenwriting. The WGA has addressed concerns about AI-generated material undermining writers’ credits and separated rights. The document states that AI cannot write or rewrite literary material and that AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA.
While writers will be allowed to use AI tools with company approval and compliance with policies, companies cannot mandate specific AI software usage. Additionally, companies are obligated to notify writers if any materials provided contain or were crafted using AI-generated content. The WGA retains authority over whether the adaptation of writers’ content for AI training breaches relevant rules.
Next Steps and Ongoing Labor Disputes
The agreement follows five days of intensive negotiations between the WGA and a consortium of studios, streaming services, and production companies. Members of the guild are scheduled to vote on the deal from October 2nd to 9th, which is expected to be a formality.
However, the entertainment industry is still facing ongoing labor disputes. Actors represented by the SAG-AFTRA union are currently on strike since mid-July. Resolving this dispute may take weeks, and it will likely take several more months for the industry to return to normalcy and catch up on accumulated delays.
Hot Take: Hollywood Writers End Historic Strike, AI Guidelines Addressed
The Writers Guild of America has concluded its lengthy strike, reaching a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA. The agreement includes significant concessions for writers in areas such as streaming residuals and transparency regarding viewership statistics. Additionally, the WGA has introduced clear guidelines on the use of AI in screenwriting, ensuring that AI-generated material cannot undermine writers’ credits or separated rights.
The next steps involve guild members voting on the deal, which is expected to pass easily. However, Hollywood still faces challenges with ongoing labor disputes, including actors currently on strike. It will take time for the industry to fully recover and overcome accumulated delays caused by these strikes.
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