Writers’ strike continues as talks stall again

Almost four months after the WGA strike began, talks between writers and studios are once again on hold.

It’s been nearly four months since the Writers Guild of America went on strike and there’s no sign of a deal anytime soon. After a week of meetings THR reports that talks between the WGA and the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) are again on hold and no further talks are currently scheduled.

The WGA met with Bob Iger, Donna Langley, Ted Sarandos, David Zaslav and Carol Lombardini earlier this week believing they were finally ready to strike a deal. However, the WGA Negotiating Committee said that instead shemet with a lecture on how good their one and only counteroffer was.“

“We explained how their meter’s limitations, loopholes, and omissions did not adequately protect the writers from the existential threats that prompted us to strike in the first place.‘ continued the WGA publication. “We told them that a strike comes at a price and that this price is a response to all – and not just some – of the problems they have created at the company. But this was not a meeting to negotiate a deal. This was a meeting to get us to give way, which is why the AMPTP released their summary of their proposals less than twenty minutes after we left the meeting.”

Publishing the AMPTP’s counter-offer has been criticized as a strategy.not to negotiate, but to hinder us” And “bet that we’ll turn each other on.“A comedy showrunner told THR that the release of the counteroffer was a”unfocused error” by the AMPTP. “They treat us like children. We fly in CEOs to explain why this is a good deal and why we should embrace it. Bring Mom and Dad to give us a lecture.‘ said the showrunner. “Anyone who’s ever dealt with business at any business knows they’re always trying to do this to us. There is always a call from our agents or lawyers telling us that we are acting improperly. It’s always the best and final, and there’s never enough money until you push back and it miraculously shows up.“

THR’s report states that according to sources on both sides, “There is no timeline yet for negotiations to resume between the group representing Hollywood’s studios and streamers and the Writers Guild Negotiating Committee.“Although the WGA says that “progress had been made“During the meeting, the offer corresponded to the AMPTP “Give with one hand and take back with the other.”

With SAG-AFTRA on strike alongside the WGA, you’d think the studios would want to strike a deal as soon as possible. The estimated cost of the WGA deal would be trifling compared to the annual earnings of the big studios, but here we are… 115 days later, with nearly all Hollywood movies and TV shows on hiatus.