Writers and studios will have further discussions over the next two weeks; Strike approval vote still awaited – update

UPDATED with the latest: Talks between the WGA and AMPTP continue on Wednesday after the guild called in its strike authorization earlier this week after saying the studios were “unable to provide meaningful answers to important economic issues in one of the WGA’s core areas of work.” “small steps” towards an agreement.

ADVANCE EXCLUSIVE, March 31: We might get somewhere after it appears that the writers and studios may have more conversations over the next two weeks.

Deadline understands there is a proposal for the two sides to possibly talk next Tuesday.

This is an important step in the negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP, as a two-week break has been planned from today, with the original idea back on the table for eight days from 17 April. Sources told Deadline that there appears to be a willingness to continue discussions in some form now that common ground has been found between the WGA and AMPTP.

A source said the two sides appeared to be closer than expected on a number of key issues, suggesting there was more momentum than both sides had predicted.

But it comes amid anticipation that the WGA will continue to plan to ask its members for a strike authorization vote in the coming days, in what Deadline describes as a series of “roadshows”.

Part of that was attributed to the leadership of WGAW Deputy CEO Ellen Stutzman, who abruptly replaced David Young on Feb. 28 after she left for medical reasons.

Stutzman, a late addition to the guild’s 25-member negotiating committee, was selected for her role in the talks. “There is a different atmosphere in the room now that Ellen is in charge,” said a WGA member. “It’s firm, thoughtful, doesn’t back down, but doesn’t try to argue about anything,” she added.

“It’s less hostile to Ellen,” another well-connected Guild member praised Stutzman and the way she held the WGA negotiating team together. “I don’t think anyone in their right mind would want a strike, but leverage is important.”

According to sources, the second week of negotiations was more substantial than the first.

The first week started slowly with a source describing it as “loud” as the two sides danced around each other. Studio sources initially described the WKV’s strategy as “stone walls” and expressed disappointment that the WKV would not respond to certain questions about its proposals. One manager described the WGA team as “making speeches, not proposals.” Across the table, a writer close to the events said studio reps “are just a wall, neither offensive nor defensive.”

During the 10-day meeting at AMPTP’s Sherman Oaks offices, the two sides spent less than 10 hours talking together, we’re told. They spent most of the rest of the time in meetings and private rooms formulating their responses to the other side’s proposals.

A presentation later this week seems to have changed the temperature in the room, with more hope than ever to find common ground.

After all that, and with the strike still a distinct possibility, an insider familiar with the negotiations told Deadline: “I’m 95% sure there’s going to be a strike, everybody assumes there will be.” come to this point.”

It seems that the two main issues for writers are still torrents and mini-rooms.

The authors say studios have used streaming to lower writer pay, separate writing from production and “deteriorate” working conditions for series at all levels. They added that more writers “regardless of experience” are working on minimums, often for fewer weeks, and despite increasing budgets, average pay for writers and producers has fallen. The mini-room trend has made it worse, they say, especially for younger writers.

On the other hand, the studios say the writers have seen a 46% increase in high-budget streaming leftovers since their last contract in 2020, some of which may not have been deposited into their bank accounts due to timing. They also point out that they negotiate minimum amounts and most writers work above that scale. On a more fundamental level, studios say they have to cut costs and make layoffs because of the deteriorating financial outlook.

“I know we’re not talking about recession, but I don’t think enough attention has been paid to it,” said a source at the studio. For example, the loss of $2.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 from the discovery of Warner Bros.

For now, it is important to see how and when the two sides return to discussions, even if it is close to Passover. The original plan was to return to the table on April 17, two weeks before the WGA’s contract with the AMPTP expires.

During these two weeks, it is widely expected that the WKV will seek permission from its members to strike. In January, the WKV found that the last time writers voted to authorize a strike was in 2017, 96.3% voted in favor. “Throughout the history of the WGA, writers have proven that through collective action they can achieve new industry standards,” it says.

Several sources in the room said the vote was intended to instill “fear” in the AMPTP, although the studios fully expected the move.

“I expect that card to be played,” another added before talks began. “It’s become one of the standard tools in her toolbox and her negotiations, so it wouldn’t surprise me in the least.”

As another put it, “It’s like they brought their divorce attorney to the wedding.”

It will be interesting to see if a compromise can be reached instead of a strike, which is now clearly more than a consideration.