Writers Strike negotiations with Studios will resume on Friday

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced on Thursday that it will resume negotiations with major studios and streaming services on Friday, August 12, 2023. The strike, which began on May 1, 2023, is the first major Hollywood strike since 2007-2008.

The WGA is seeking a new contract that would give writers more control over their work, including a greater share of profits from streaming services. The studios have resisted these demands, and the strike has caused delays in production on several major films and television shows.

It is unclear whether the two sides will be able to reach a deal on Friday. However, the resumption of negotiations is a positive sign, and it is possible that a resolution could be reached in the near future.

Here are some of the key issues that the WGA is seeking to address in the new contract:

• Profits from streaming services: The WGA wants to ensure that writers receive a fair share of the profits from streaming services. Currently, writers only receive a small percentage of the profits from streaming, which is much less than they receive from traditional television and film.
• Credits: The WGA wants to ensure that writers receive proper credit for their work. Currently, writers are often not given credit for their work on streaming shows, and they are also not given credit for their work on shows that are produced by streaming services but aired on traditional television.
• Workplace diversity: The WGA wants to ensure that the film and television industry is more diverse. The WGA is calling for studios to adopt more inclusive hiring practices and to create more opportunities for writers from underrepresented groups.

The WGA strike has had a significant impact on the film and television industry. Several major productions have been delayed or cancelled, and late-night talk shows have been forced to air reruns. The strike has also caused financial hardship for many writers, who have lost their income during the strike.

The resumption of negotiations is a positive sign, and it is possible that a resolution could be reached in the near future. However, the two sides are still far apart on some key issues, and it is unclear whether they will be able to reach a deal.