TV Shows Set to Resume Production as Writers’ Strike Ends, Actors Still on Strike
In a major development for the entertainment industry, Hollywood’s writers’ strike has finally come to an end after almost five months. The strike, which started on May 2, had brought production to a standstill across the television landscape. However, while writers have voted to accept a new contract and are preparing to return to work, actors are still on strike, posing further challenges for the industry.
Late-night talk shows, which were the first to go dark when the writers walked out, are expected to be among the first shows to resume production. However, the writers’ strike isn’t the only hurdle to overcome. Negotiations with actors have yet to commence, prolonging the suspension of scripted shows.
The Eastern and Western branches of the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) and their joint negotiating committee have approved the contract agreement with Hollywood’s major studios, streaming services, and production companies. This paves the way for writers to start working on scripts as of Wednesday, pending their own ratification vote in early October.
The three-year agreement reflects significant wins for writers in areas such as compensation, employment duration, staffing requirements, and control over artificial intelligence. The guild initially sought a 5-6% increase in pay and residual earnings from shows, while the studios offered 2-4%. The compromise reached is a raise of 3.5-5%. Additionally, writers will now receive bonuses for contributing to popular streaming shows.
The deal also ensures that shows intended to run for at least 13 episodes will have a minimum of six writers on staff. Writers on shows in initial development will be employed for at least 10 weeks, and staff on aired shows will be employed for three weeks per episode. Importantly, the agreement addresses the regulation and control of artificial intelligence in the creative process, a concern for many writers.
Despite the positive outcome for writers, actors continue to strike. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) returned to picket lines on Tuesday, marking their first action since the tentative agreement between writers and studios. However, the successful resolution of the writers’ strike has given actors a newfound sense of optimism.
The guild’s decision to potentially expand the strike into the video game market adds further pressure on studios. SAG-AFTRA voted overwhelmingly in favor of striking against video game companies if ongoing negotiations fail. The issues at stake, including wages, safety measures, and AI usage, mirror the concerns of the film and TV industry.
As the TV industry takes its first steps towards resuming production, it remains to be seen how long the actors’ strike will continue. The negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the studios will likely gain momentum in the coming days. In the meantime, the sense of hope and progress achieved through the resolution of the writers’ strike is tinged with the knowledge that the fight for fair treatment and compensation in the entertainment industry is far from over.
