In a surprising turn of events, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have issued a rare joint statement following the resumption of talks between the two parties.
The straightforward email to members simply reads, “The WGA and AMPTP met for bargaining today and will meet again tomorrow.” While it’s not uncommon for entertainment labor negotiations to involve joint releases, often amidst media blackouts affecting both sides, this marks the first time during this contentious negotiation cycle that the WGA and the AMPTP have issued a joint statement.
STAY ON TOP OF CREATIVE!
Subscribe to our FREE weekly elert and get the latest industry news from advertising, film, TV, post-production and more!
The renewal of talks comes amid a palpable sense of urgency surrounding the ongoing strikes and the desire to reach a resolution.
Top entertainment industry CEOs, including Disney CEO Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, and NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley, joined the negotiations on Wednesday. This move signifies a heightened commitment to finding a solution to the protracted labor disputes. A studio-side source familiar with Wednesday’s session revealed that the CEOs had cleared their schedules in anticipation of lengthy discussions, but the meeting concluded by late afternoon.
REELated:
Wednesday’s meeting marked a return to the bargaining table for the WGA and the AMPTP, whose negotiations hit a standstill in late August. This followed a separate meeting between top WGA leaders and leading studio executives on August 21. Subsequent to that conference, the AMPTP publicly released a previous proposal to the writers. In response, the writers characterized the CEOs’ approach as a “lecture about how good their single and only counteroffer was.”
The joint statement suggests a renewed commitment to productive discussions and a potential path toward resolving the ongoing writers’ strike, which has been a source of significant disruption in the entertainment industry. Industry stakeholders are closely monitoring the developments in the hope of a swift resolution to the labor disputes.
For Reel 360 News’ full strike coverage, click here.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
