So, thoughts?

As so we all do I would hope, Don. A caveat I’ve received from several sites:  Even if you are not a WGA member, beware of pitching or signing with any signatory company on their “struck” list. It could well come back to bite you in any future script deals. WGA has a comprehensive list of signatories posted on its website. Check it out before submitting or signing anything during the strike. Better safe than sorry.

Yes! Thank you Don for posting.
Too often the Writer is on the last rung of the ladder, yet without the Writer (s) - no show.

No residuals on Streaming and syndication.
Regulation of material using AI.
The advent of mini writer's rooms.
Basically writers should be able to make a decent living v Execs whose salaries have ballooned.

98% of Writers have endorsed this strike.
Things need to change.

Quoted from LC Too often the Writer is on the last rung of the ladder, yet without the Writer (s) - no show.

Yep... hell yeah workers, get your respect and get your money.-A

I got an email from The Black List that any writer who crosses the picket line will be permanently banned from WGA membership.

Quoted from dawnpisturino I got an email from The Black List that any writer who crosses the picket line will be permanently banned from WGA membership.

They mean business!
Which is good.
I hope they get results. It sure will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I’m almost always on strike.

I'm guessing most of us on here would one day aspire to be in the WGA (or local equivalent), so the rights they are fighting for are important and do nothing more than ask that writing in the world of streamers pays a sustainable salary.

I also stand with Max

Murray on The Mary Tyler Moore Show made a great statement when the News writers were about to go on strike when negotiations broke down: "Why is it always 'Management's offers, but worker's demands?'"

I'll always stand with the writers.

Quoted from steven8 Murray on The Mary Tyler Moore Show made a great statement when the News writers were about to go on strike when negotiations broke down: "Why is it always 'Management's offers, but worker's demands?'" I'll always stand with the writers.

That's an awesome quote. I love it when language is dissected like that to show implicit bias within the system.

Here's hoping the WGA gets a quick and decisive victory!!

Last strike sucked. Hopefully the writers can get a good deal and everyone can get back to work soon. Here's hoping.

Ghost

Given the quality of film and TV right now, this strike may go on for a very long time.

BREAKING: Hollywood actors join screenwriters on strike in first joint walkout since 1960, halting production across the industry—AP

Good to see the actors and writers standing together. Too bad the directors wimped out.-A

I support the WGA in general.

I think one of their specific demands is unresaonable: This one:

Pre-greenlight rooms: Minimum staff of 6 writers
(including 4 Writer-Producers)

Post-greenlight rooms:

 1 writer per episode up to 6 episodes, then 1
additional writer required for each 2 episodes
after 6 up to a max. of 12 writers

 Example: 8 episodes requires 7 writers incl. 4
Writer-Producers; 10 episodes requires 8
writers incl. 5 Writer-Producers.

This is a creative field and I see no rational way to arbitraily establish how many writers it shoud take to write something. Sheridan as an example wriote Yellowstone by hiimself - should he be forced to take 7 additional writers???? Should Sorkin? Tarantino?

Instead the union should be focused on max work hours per week - a standard l ike that would yield the applicable number of writers for a series.

Other than that - I'm with them

I agree, Dave!

I get that they're trying to employ people but compulsory rules placed on a key writer to employ others when it's a solo project is just hindering creativity It should be up to the Writer if a project has the green light if he wants to bring more writers in.

The streaming residuals, the copyright infringements, fair pay, the AI threat, yes. Writer's Rooms rules could result in inconsistent writing of a project, too many cooks, the original concept ruined etc. Nuh-uh.

Sheridan is a perfect example.

Quoted from LC I agree, Dave! I get that they're trying to employ people but compulsory rules placed on a key writer to employ others when it's a solo project is just hindering creativity It should be up to the Writer if a project has the green light if he wants to bring more writers in. The streaming residuals, the copyright infringements, fair pay, the AI threat, yes. Writer's Rooms rules could result in inconsistent writing of a project, too many cooks, the original concept ruined etc. Nuh-uh. Yep. Hopefully they'll cede this demand Sheridan is a perfect example.

Rules were made to be broken.

This is a crappy time to be a writer or an actor, in or out of Hollywood. Writing anything during the strike just doesn't seem kosher to me, even though I'm nearly done with a yearslong slasher script.

It's obscene how the networks, studios and streamers are treating their talent. We're not cattle! More actors are Daeg Faerch or Gary Smith than they are Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep, and depend on residuals for their livelihood. Most writers aren't rich, either. I've been trying to make an effort to watch (esp. streaming) TV shows and movies where an actor (but sure, writer too) is alive and can collect some kind of residuals during the strikes.

I just watched Black Mirror's "Joan is Awful," and wow. It's like the writer, Charlie Brooker, knew this was coming. I'm surprised Netflix was okay with such biting-the-hand. They won't be happy in the morning when they see Eleven.

Good points all. Could it be we're all about to find out how well AI-generated scripts work.

Reg

Quoted from ghost and_ghostie gal Good points all. Could it be we're all about to find out how well AI-generated scripts work. Reg

Hopefully not.

I have played around with them on CHAT - they are horrible

The next WGA strike in 2050:

My message to the industry is don't step down/back , step up. Take the fight and use everything you have.

I take it today's non-meeting meeting didn't go well?

Quoted from ghost and_ghostie gal Good points all. Could it be we're all about to find out how well AI-generated scripts work. Reg

AI-generated scripts are bad. Really bad. AI is a great tool, but it's a long, long, long way away from being able to write as creatively as a human. It's a great grammar checker though, too.

Well, we've reached day 100 with no end in sight. (Day 27 for actors.) The WGA calls it a "milestone of shame." I just skimmed through the SAG interim agreements and they seem fair and reasonable. What's AMPTP's problem?

I'm hoping this can and will be resolved soon.

I found this to be an interesting thought: https://nofilmschool.com/streaming-service-transparency

Wow Also: https://nofilmschool.com/suits-residuals

Possibly some movement?  I'm hopeful.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news.....o-resume/ar-AA1h3xab

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/n.....for-real/ar-AA1h4uv3

Crossing fingers...

A newer story sounds even more promising.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/ente.....efbda37187&ei=29

Quoted from steven8 A newer story sounds even more promising. https://www.msn.com/en-us/ente.....efbda37187&ei=29

I think it sounds promising

They'd better get it solved before the studios produce a dozen superhero movies using AI and no one notices.  It could definitely happen...

Posted 1 hour ago;

https://www.aol.com/hollywood-writers-studios-reach-tentative-022434214.html

I like this quote!

"We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership," the WGA negotiating committee said in an email to its members Sunday night. "What remains now is for our staff to make sure everything we have agreed to is codified in final contract language. And though we are eager to share the details of what has been achieved with you, we cannot do that until the last 'i' is dotted."

I hope they get the deals they want and things can resume asap. I was fearing this was going to go into Thanksgiving & Christmas and beyond. Relieved for those doing it tough that it looks like that won't  happen.

I find it interesting that everyone is talking about what a great deal was achieved on behalf of the writers, but I'm not seeing any of the details about what was agreed to.  Fingers crossed that it's a great deal, but I'm sure there had to be some concessions on both sides and I'm hoping the concessions given up by the writers are not significant.

I was honestly getting worried that all my future posts were going to have to be AI-generated.

Quoted from Gary in Houston I find it interesting that everyone is talking about what a great deal was achieved on behalf of the writers, but I'm not seeing any of the details about what was agreed to.  Fingers crossed that it's a great deal, but I'm sure there had to be some concessions on both sides and I'm hoping the concessions given up by the writers are not significant. I was honestly getting worried that all my future posts were going to have to be AI-generated.

The article I linked to said they really wanted to say what the deal was, but it was best not to until the language was nailed down.  Can't blame them, really.  I just hope they can get back to work and the rights of the writers are protected.  AI is a tool and no more.  Not a replacement.

Quoted from Gary in Houston I was honestly getting worried that all my future posts were going to have to be AI-generated.

Already post this generated AI.

Quoted from PKCardinal Already post this generated AI.

All posters who are actually AI raise your right chip.

Strike ends at midnight!!

https://deadline.com/2023/09/wga-strike-officially-end-leaders-approve-tentative-deal-1235556919/

Great news!

Now if we can just get the UAW and the car makers to come together.

Wonder if the actor's deal will come together quickly now that the writers and directors are done?

Quoted from Gary in Houston Wonder if the actor's deal will come together quickly now that the writers and directors are done?

I sure hope so, Gary.

I've finally read the entire 94-page contract and can now weigh in.

This is an epic deal. This is a big... The writers won. They got everything they asked for. They're getting better minimums, better residuals, P&H. Writers are humans, not robots.

Subscription streaming (e.g. Netflix) (Tier 1 - e.g. a certain supernatural 80s show) is being given the same treatment as prime time network TV. Tier 2 (e.g. a game show) will be treated equivalent to basic cable.

Ad-based free streaming (e.g. Tubi, Pluto) is being treated as if it were basic cable. Writing teams will now be compensated and treated as individuals. This is excellent. Why should each member of a team only get half the money or benefits?

Streaming feature writers are now getting an 18% increase in minimums and a 26% increase in residuals. This is a big deal.  There are a lot of streaming movies that get lost in the woods, unless it's a bigger title. In the event that a streaming program gets a limited theatrical release, writer will get a 3% residual.

Screenwriters now have a guaranteed second step written into their contract -- which covers all types of film, original, remake, sequel, IP, etc. This is awesome. This means that Sam won't rewrite Bob's first draft when Bob is perfectly available to do it himself.

Foreign streaming: 76% increase, including 25% base, for the largest streamers.

Writer will get a 50% bonus if their sub streaming movie or show is viewed by at least 20% within the first 90 days (or of subsequent years).

I think the viewership model is fair enough. Views divided by subscribers. (Views = total hours viewed divided by runtime.) I think the top-secret nature of streaming data is a bit asinine. Is this Hollywood or Washington? But hey, at least it's progress.

Syndicated reruns will now get a 3/3/3 increase over the next three years. Prime time reruns get 2% in 2024. I know linear TV is considered to be dying, but I'm glad the money is flowing somewhere.

Looks like DVD/Blu-ray will stay the same. The contract only mentions sequels to DTV originals. If I'm not mistaken, DVD residuals are already better than streaming under the old contract.

Showrunner training is back, as are writers' rooms. Auteur writers have the option of writing each episode solo. These would be your Shonda Rhimes, Aaron Sorkin, Mike White types. Writers will no longer be forced to exhaust themselves by writing more episodes than they can handle.

Congratulations to the writers for finally getting this thing ironed out. Now we await the actors.

Thanks for the summing up, Chris.

Auteur writers have the option of writing each episode solo. These would be your Shonda Rhimes, Aaron Sorkin, Mike White types.
I was particularly interested in this outcome and this is how it should be. Taylor Sheridan is another writer in this group who was vocal about this.

I don't know the specific ins and outs but I hope it's as good as it reads percentage wise

Why the powers that be had to wait so long to buckle to the reasonable and fair demands I don't know, but it's that 'power' word I suppose, and now the power is where it belongs.

What about the actors?
Negotiations continue I read, and they're optimistic.

The SAG-AFTRA strike is finally over as well. The full deal won't be published until the SAG National Board reviews it. I'm not sure if it will affect us much, but still exciting.

What they have told us:

a) Huge AI protections
b) "above-pattern" minimum increases
c) streaming participation bonuses (Unrealistic, you say, Mr. Iger?)
d) P&H caps
e) increases for background actors
f) diverse community protections

Sounds like a sweet deal so far. I don't know how many 90 pages this one will be.