Writers on strike and studio representatives are set to meet this week to reopen negotiation talks

On Tuesday night, leaders of the striking writers’ union informed their Hollywood-based membership about their intent to convene with studio delegates to discuss recommencing negotiations. This is the first officially acknowledged interaction between the two factions since the initiation of the strike three months ago.

In an email circulated to members, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) disclosed that the chief of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – an organization representing leading studios, streaming platforms, and production companies in the negotiations – has sought a meeting scheduled for Friday to deliberate over the revival of contract discussions.

“Post-meeting, we’ll get back to you with additional details,” read the email. “As we’ve previously mentioned, stay cautious of speculations. We’ll personally communicate any significant news to you.”

It was unclear whether a similar proposal had been made to the union heads of Hollywood actors, who have been on strike since July 14.

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When questioned about the likelihood of discussions with either union, a spokesperson for the AMPTP merely responded via email, “We are dedicated to identifying a path towards agreements that will benefit both Unions.”

An attempt to reach a representative from the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the union representing striking film and TV actors, via email remained unanswered.

Negotiations between the screenwriters and their employers hit a deadlock on May 1, with the initial strike paralyzing Hollywood production from the next day. The strike revolves around issues such as wage levels in the face of inflation, the trend of employing smaller writing teams for brief TV show seasons, and the question of authority over the use of artificial intelligence in scriptwriting.

“By this point, I had been hopeful of having initiated some kind of dialogue with the industry,” stated SAG-AFTRA Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland in an interview with The Big Big News earlier on Tuesday, before the email notification to the writers was dispatched. “Obviously, this has yet to transpire, but I remain hopeful.”

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More about Hollywood Writers Strike Negotiations

• Writers Guild of America
• Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers
• Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
• The Big Big News (Please note that this link is not real as the “The Big Big News” appears to be a fictional news outlet. Replace with an actual source if needed.)