Major Breakthrough Writers Set to Return to Work on 09/27/2023 After Lengthy Strike

After 148 days of striking, television and movie writers are set to return to work on Wednesday 09/27/2023.

Writers Guild votes on a tentative contract before the return to work

The Writers Guild of America represents 11,500 screenwriters. On Tuesday, it announced that three internal boards had voted unanimously to conclude the strike. The boards will also submit a tentative contract with entertainment companies for ratification by the members. The voting period will commence on Monday and conclude on Oct. 9.

It is anticipated that members will ratify the three-year deal.

“Our negotiators knew the kind of deal they had to deliver — anything less than exceptional was not going to fly with a membership that has become younger, more active, possibly more radical,” remarked Bryce Schramm, a writer credited with works like the CW’s “Dynasty” and Disney’s “Runaways.”

The Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached a tentative agreement on Sunday. The AMPTP negotiated on behalf of the studios. A bitter standoff had led to a near-complete halt in film and television production. Guild leaders have consistently referred to the terms of the agreement as “exceptional.” Studios, however, have refrained from commenting.

Terms of the tentative deal

For the first time, the Writers Guild disclosed these terms on Tuesday. The union did not achieve all of its demands. It did secure significant gains.

The union says residual payments (a form of royalty) for overseas streaming would rise 76 percent. For instance, Netflix’s foreign residuals for a one-hour episode over three years would total $32,830, up from $18,684.

Additionally, writers will now receive a bonus from streaming services based on a percentage of active subscribers. The guild had pushed for entertainment companies to establish a viewership-based bonus to reward successful programs.

Minimum staffing for television shows was a contentious issue. Now, studios must hire at least three writer-producers for writers’ rooms in the case of first-season shows running 20 weeks or longer. Minimum staffing for subsequent seasons will be tied to the number of episodes.

Studios had initially resisted negotiations on the guild’s demand for minimum staffing. They deemed it “a hiring quota that is incompatible with the creative nature of our industry.” The Writers Guild had sought a minimum of six writers.

The Writers Guild outlined the tentative contract, which includes enhancements estimated to be worth $233 million annually. At the beginning of negotiations in the spring, the guild proposed $429 million in enhancements. Studios countered with $86 million.

Artificial intelligence protections

Furthermore, the tentative contract contains assurances that artificial intelligence technology will not infringe upon writers’ credits and compensation. Studios are prohibited from using A.I. tools to rewrite original material. However, writers may use the technology for assistance, provided the company they work for permits it. Studios cannot mandate its use.

In a concession by the union, studios will have the ability to use film and TV scripts they already own to refine A.I. tools and conduct experiments.

In April, during negotiations prior to the strike, studios refused to engage on the topic of artificial intelligence. They cited too much uncertainty about the technology. They indicated that the guild would need to wait until contract negotiations in 2026. Studio leaders have since acknowledged their early refusal to negotiate on the issue as a mistake. It was one of the reasons for the strike.

Hollywood remains largely at a standstill after the writers return to work

Writers’ rooms can now resume operation. Much of Hollywood, though, will remain at a standstill. Tens of thousands of actors are still on strike, and no talks between the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and the studios have been scheduled.

The only productions that could swiftly resume are those without actors. Examples are late-night shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, and daytime talk shows hosted by Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Hudson.

In addition to actors, over 100,000 behind-the-scenes workers will continue to face idleness. They include directors, camera operators, publicists, makeup artists, prop makers, set dressers, lighting technicians, hairstylists and cinematographers. Many are experiencing mounting financial hardships. The impact extends beyond California and New York, reaching production hubs in states like Georgia and New Mexico.

According to ProdPro, a production tracking service, about $10 billion in TV and film production remains on hold, affecting 176 shows and films.

Picket lines before the return to work

The Writers Guild has suspended picketing. However, it has encouraged its members to join actors on picket lines this week in a symbolic show of solidarity before returning to work.

“Today is an important day to pay a debt to the actors who came out to support us early during our strike, when they still had a contract,” said Bryce Schramm, the writer, on Tuesday as he arrived at Paramount Pictures with a picket sign. “It’s also nice to gather with other writers and feel some ownership over our victory.”

Around 80 people were marching outside Paramount by midmorning. Roughly a third of them were wearing blue Writers Guild shirts. Some had adorned sparkly tutus as part of a “tutu Tuesdays” theme. A boom box was playing “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John.

Comedic actor Jack Black (“Jumanji”) carried a picket sign reading, “We Ain’t Done Yet.” Emmy-winning actor Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”) sported a black SAG-AFTRA shirt.

The atmosphere was buoyant, even euphoric.

“I can’t imagine that it will be drawn out,” said Kari Nicolle, an actress known for her work on “CSI: Vegas,” regarding the remaining negotiations between her union and the studios. “If the writers were satisfied with the A.I. protections that studios offered, then hopefully SAG will be able to piggyback.”

Key takeaways

• After 148 days of striking, writers are set to return to work on Wednesday 09/27/2023.
• The voting period for the three-year tentative deal begins on Monday and concludes on Oct. 9.
• The deal includes a 76 percent increase in overseas streaming residuals, minimum staffing for writers’ rooms and A.I. protections.
• Tens of thousands of actors are still on strike, and no talks between SAG-AFTRA and the studios have been scheduled.

Learn more about the strike on Wikipedia.

Related reading on Creative Geniusess

• WGA Reaches Tentative Deal and Hollywood’s Actors Take Center Stage Amidst Labor Negotiations — a tentative agreement between screenwriters and major entertainment studios
• Hollywood Strike Resolved: SAG-AFTRA and Studios Reach Tentative Deal — SAG-AFTRA and the studios have reached a preliminary agreement
• The Role of AI in Hollywood: A Double-Edged Sword — Artificial Intelligence (AI) has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives
• Strikes Take Toll on Hollywood: About 17,000 Jobs Lost in California’s Entertainment Industry — The ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA