- The strike on Hollywood continues
- The AMPTP has proposed new terms
- THIS is what they entail
On a day of union national solidarity for the writers guild and the actors union, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers suddenly released details of what it calls a "comprehensive package" to address the concerns of union members on strike. These are meant to hopefully bring to rest some of the major concerns that union members had surrounding the future of their jobs. Almost two weeks old, the new proposal offers details on residuals, AI, writers’ rooms, and perhaps most strikingly, a new attitude toward transparency in metrics from the streamers. In terms of cold hard cash, the AMPTP is exclaiming that this is an "offer that represents the highest wage increase for writers in 35 years."
Could this bring peace?
The concerns surrounding the role of AI in the entertainment industry is perhaps the biggest issue on the table, and many are not fully convinced that talks have been productive so far. This evening’s release by the AMPTP follows a meeting that just wrapped tonight between WGA leadership, AMPTP leadership and several studio CEOs, as reported by 'Deadline'.
This was to be an opportunity for the CEOs to directly tell the WGA leadership how they felt they were putting their best foot forward with their latest proposal to end the strike. Some big hitters would have been involved at these talks. Among those speaking with the WGA brass were Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Disney boss Bob Iger, Warner Bros Discovery chief David Zaslav as well as Universal Chairman Filmed Entertainment Group Donna Langley, sources told 'Deadline'. And its rumored that the two sides are to meet again.
This is all to say that a potential change in the game of sorts seems to be occurring when it comes to the digital metrics of entertainment and its production. The studios and streamers are offering the WGA "increased data transparency" which will be comprised of "viewership data in the form of quarterly confidential reports" provided to the guild.
Also interesting:
Quite a move...
It's all about being paid fairly! These reports will include "total SVOD view hours per title."
"This increased transparency will enable the WGA to develop proposals to restructure the current SVOD residual regime in the future," said their release. This signifies a shift in tactics by the studios to address concerns! After talks ended in early May and the guild called its first strike in 15 years, the AMPTP did not respond the WGA’s requests for more negotiations. As they found themselves at the losing end of the PR war, amidst pressure from all sides, AMPTP boss Carol Lombardini reached out to the WGA leadership with an offer to meet. The parties returned to the bargaining table for the first time on August 11 — 102 days into the strike.
Let's see what happens now.
