Hollywood Writers’ Strike Ends with New Contract Agreement

After nearly five months of upheaval that brought the entertainment industry to a standstill, the leadership of Hollywood’s writers unions announced the official end of the strike on Tuesday. The decision came after the governing boards of both the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) voted to accept a tentative contract agreement with studios. The strike, which began on May 2, 2023, will officially conclude at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, allowing writers to resume work.

The new contract, which was reached on Sunday, must still be ratified by the WGA’s members. Eligible voters will have the opportunity to cast their votes from October 2nd through October 9th. In the meantime, members are free to return to their creative endeavors.

The strike, which marked the first screenwriters’ strike since 2007 and the longest since 1988, saw approximately 11,500 WGA members walk off the job in protest of several key issues, including improved pay, staffing levels on television shows, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in scriptwriting.

One significant development in the new contract is the inclusion of regulations related to AI. According to the WGA’s website, AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the new agreement, ensuring that AI-generated content cannot undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights. However, the contract allows writers to use AI with their work if their company consents, as long as it is in line with company policy. Importantly, companies cannot mandate the use of AI software, such as ChatGPT, for writing services.

Additionally, the new contract introduces changes to foreign streaming residuals. Under the revised terms, residuals will be based on the streaming service’s global foreign subscribers, resulting in a 76% increase from the original foreign residuals contract.

While the end of the writers strike is a significant step forward for the entertainment industry, there remains uncertainty regarding the Hollywood actors’ strike. No details have emerged regarding when the actors’ strike might conclude.

Some celebrities faced backlash for returning to work before the official end of the writers strike. Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore both found themselves at the center of controversy for their decisions to continue their projects amid the strike. Barrymore later announced that her show would not return until the strike had concluded.

In a statement, WGA West expressed gratitude for the solidarity of its members and the support of other unions that joined the strike over its 146-day duration. Hollywood actors, who joined the strike in July, remain on the picket line as negotiations continue.

The terms of the new WGA contract will be in effect from September 25, 2023, to May 1, 2026, offering a path forward for writers and the entertainment industry as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of content creation.

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