The latest communication from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) shows signs of progress on critical issues that have escalated to the brink of a strike.
The topics under consideration include artificial intelligence, staffing protocols, and the disclosure of streaming service viewership data, according to exclusive information obtained by TheWrap.
According to reports, one of the notable offerings by the studios is the willingness to share viewership metrics for streaming content. This strategic move addresses a pivotal point of contention that has fueled the ongoing dispute.
Sources reveal that this proposal was tabled for discussion with WGA negotiators on a recent Friday. The forthcoming week is anticipated to bring the WGA’s response to the forefront.
Mirroring the situation faced by SAG-AFTRA, another union currently engaged in strike action, the WGA has pinpointed the scant residuals received from streaming platforms as a critical concern. The writers’ association is keen on securing access to comprehensive streaming data as an integral element of their endeavor to bolster residual compensations.
However, it’s pertinent to note that the AMPTP’s proposal does not tether compensation to viewership data. This pragmatic move might be attributed to the AMPTP’s forward-looking approach, considering future negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, contingent on a successful resolution with WGA. SAG-AFTRA has advanced a model of revenue-sharing based on streaming viewership as a potential remedy to the issue of diminutive residuals.
Furthermore, as part of their proposal, the studios have suggested granting showrunners enhanced autonomy in determining the size of the writing teams for their projects. This endeavor directly responds to the WGA’s concerns over the instability of writing roles within an environment often characterized as a “gig economy.”
One particular concern that has gained prominence is the concept of “mini-rooms.” In this practice, television creators assemble a team of writers to generate scripts for an entire season even before the show receives the green light. These writers are frequently remunerated from their pockets, often at standard industry rates. This practice is prevalent on streaming platforms, often bypassing the traditional pilot phase and proceeding straight to a series commitment. Yet, guild members assert that this approach leads to underpayment for writers compared to shows following the conventional TV production model.
To counter this, the WGA’s primary aim is to establish minimum staffing benchmarks for all new productions—a proposition that has faced resistance from the studios. Their defense often cites cases like the acclaimed HBO series “The White Lotus,” where the show’s creator, Mike White, single-handedly penned the entire script.
Parallel to SAG-AFTRA, the WGA has shown marked concern about the emergence of “artificial intelligence” technology. The guild is adamant about securing a safeguard against using AI to substitute writers’ labor or dilute their creative credits.
The latest proposal from the AMPTP endeavors to enforce more stringent regulations on this technology, although the precise contours of these measures remain undisclosed at this juncture.
The WGA initiated their strike on May 2 after attempts to reconcile these grievances faltered, with the guild highlighting perceived “gaslighting” from the AMPTP. Following a thwarted endeavor to recommence discussions on August 4, both parties engaged again on August 11, marking the formal resumption of talks.
Upon the conclusion of this recent meeting, the WGA communicated to its members via a memo: “Your Negotiating Committee received a counterproposal from the AMPTP today. After deliberation, we will evaluate their offer and go back to them with the WGA’s response next week.”
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