They have been on strike for three months. And for the first time, representatives of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) will meet those of the major Hollywood studios. In a statement, the screenwriters union informed its members that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – representing Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, between auVue l’heureres – had wanted a meeting to negotiate.
Since the start of this strike movement which is paralyzing Hollywood, no agreement has been reached between the streaming giants and the screenwriters. The latter are particularly concerned about the progress of artificial intelligence and consider that their remuneration is too low. The AMTPT declared in a press release that it was “determined to find agreements beneficial to both unions”. For its part, the WGA is suspicious and the writers do not intend to take up their pens, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The two unions are not ready to make concessions. The major points of disagreement do not find solutions. In particular, the screenwriters are asking for a greater share of streaming revenue; additional protections against artificial intelligence; as well as salary increases to compensate for inflation and the now shorter TV seasons.
On July 14, the cast joined the writers in their fight. On August 1, in Los Angeles, during yet another demonstration in front of the Disney studios, Sean Penn – very active in the movement – had declared that it was necessary “to fight and show firmness against digital technologies, whether at Disney , Netflix or anywhere else.”
The strike that has been going on since May has paralyzed Hollywood. If, according to Paris Match, the strike had been anticipated for productions until the summer of 2024, the 2024-2025 program may be disrupted. The filming of Deadpool 3, the last episode of the Marvel saga, has been stopped and its release, scheduled for May, should be postponed. On the series side, season 5 of Stranger Things, the second of Interview with the Vampire or even Yellowjackets also suffer from the anger movement of the writers and actors.
But, for its part, Sony Pictures is adjusting the release date of its productions. The highly anticipated sequel to Spider-Man – Across The Spider-Verse, Spider-Man – Beyond The Spider-Verse, will not hit screens on March 29, 2024. The release of Ghostbusters, worn by Mckenna Grace and Bill Murray, is scheduled for release December 20, 2023, is postponed to March 29.
