Hollywood news

Hollywood screenwriters overwhelmingly approve tentative contract agreement



On August 31, members of the SAG-AFTRA Actors Guild joined a strike by members of the Writers Guild of America and lined up on the picket line at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. WGA members ratified the tentative agreement on Monday, but SAG-AFTRA members continue to strike. File photo: Jim Ruymen/UPI

October 9 (UPI) — Writers Guild of America members overwhelmingly approved a tentative agreement reached last month with Hollywood film and television producers, the union announced Monday.

WGA leadership announces that 99% of its more than 8,500 members voted to ratify the agreement with the Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance, officially ending the 146-day strike, the second longest writers’ strike in history. did.

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“Through unity and determination, we ratified an agreement that provides meaningful benefits and protections for writers from all walks of life in our combined membership,” WGA-West President Meredith Steem said in a statement. “Together, we were able to accomplish what many said was impossible just six months ago.”

“AMPTP member companies congratulate the WGA on ratifying the new agreement, which means meaningful benefits and protections for authors,” the producers’ association said. “Getting writers back to work is an important development for our industry.”

The three-year contract includes an increase in salary and access to Netflix and disney+, this was the main issue behind the strike.

Additionally, material generated by artificial intelligence is not considered literary source material or assigned material, and studios cannot require writers to use AI software, but they may use it if the writer wishes and with the studio’s consent. It also stipulates that you can.

Meanwhile, Hollywood actors represented by the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists continue to strike. AMPTP announced on Friday that negotiations are scheduled to resume on Monday while parties make internal adjustments over the weekend.

WGA-East President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said it was time for AMPTP to “bring the rest of town back into action by negotiating a fair contract with our SAG-AFTRA brothers who have supported our writers through negotiations.” I’ve come,” he said.

The union announced Friday that NBC cast members saturday night live You are free to return to work under a separate contract that is not subject to strikes. The network announced that the venerable comedy show will begin its 49th season on October 14, while many other shows remain closed.