Few signs of imminent end to US writers strike following WGA & AMPTP meeting

(CC: Izayah Ramos – unsplash)

The US writers strike shows little sign of ending any time soon, with yesterday’s meeting between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) showing few indications that a compromise is near.

The two sides met on Tuesday after the production union offered new terms to screenwriters late last week, with the WGA presenting its counterproposal yesterday.

Most of the detail is being kept behind closed doors, but US reports suggest that while there was some movement – including the WGA conceding a one-person reduction on its initial demands around minimum staff sizes – most of the other obstacles remain.

Major issues include the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), improved transparency on viewing figures related to residual payments and more control around writers rooms.

Hopes had risen that the two sides could be nearing an agreement, but the WGA had warned its members last week to ignore news reports leaked from AMPTP members that a deal was likely, highlighting studio “management using the media or industry surrogates to try to influence the narrative.”

It is not clear when the two sides will meet again but the imperative to find a deal is clear, with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and Disney chief Bob Iger now taking a direct interest in the dispute.

The WGA has been on strike since 2 May, with actor’s union SAG-AFTRA also halting work last month, bringing Hollywood productions to a standstill.