Skip to main content

Hollywood writers strike ends after agreement on AI and other issues

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has called off its strike after five months during which a slew of popular shows were taken off air.

The WGA said it had reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new three-year Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA), and voted unanimously to recommend it to its 11,500 members.

Recommended Videos

It’s also given the green light for writers to return to work from Wednesday, though acknowledged that the situation could change if its members vote against the deal when they have their say next month.

The WGA reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. Today, our Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board, and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement. The strike ends at 12:01 am. Check out our deal at https://t.co/c0ULMXhPL7. #WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/7z8kw9xI1p

— Writers Guild of America West (@WGAWest) September 27, 2023

According to the WGA, improvements have been agreed for writers’ pay as well as for contribution rates to their health and pensions.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry has also been addressed following concerns that the technology could adversely impact the work of entertainment writers.

As per the WGA:

– AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.

– A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.

– The company must disclose to the writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material.

– The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.

A summary of the deal terms of the MBA is available here, while anyone keen to pore over the full details of the 94-page agreement should go here.

The ongoing actors’ strike means movie sets and TV shows will stay shuttered, but the new WGA contract means that, for example, America’s late-night talk shows can return to screens, with NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, CBS’ The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! expected to head back into production as early as next week.

But as one entertainment-linked strike ends, another could soon begin as the sections of the video game industry demand a better contract.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
7 most unnecessary sequels ever
Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix hold mics and smile in Joker: Folie à Deux."

It's common knowledge that many movie sequels fail to live up to the hype and quality of their predecessors. Film studios usually try to follow the money by making a follow-up to a movie that succeeded in theaters. However, filmmakers can't always replicate the magic of the original film, which has led to some lackluster sequels.

These films can bomb so spectacularly or miss the mark by so much that some even argue that they had no business existing at all. While almost any film can be deemed "unnecessary," there are many sequels to critically and commercially successful motion pictures that really didn't need to be made.

Read more
I’ve seen enough. Glen Powell is a better Running Man than Arnold Schwarzenegger
Glen Powell poses in a disguise in The Running Man.

Paramount Pictures revealed the first trailer for The Running Man, a dystopian action movie based on Stephen King's 1982 novel. Glen Powell headlines The Running Man, and despite the lack of footage, it's clear that his Ben Richards will be better than the one portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Stop filming me!" Powell's Richards screams before an explosion launches the character off a bridge and into the water. In a near-future society, Ben faces a financial crisis. He needs a doctor to save his sick daughter. Because desperate times call for desperate measures, Ben enters The Running Man, a deadly competition where contestants ("Runners") must survive 30 days. During that timeframe, professional assassins ("Hunters") hunt the contestants down, intending to kill them. Survive and win the grand prize, or die and get nothing.

Read more
The Old Guard 2 cast chooses iconic movie moments to witness for the first time
A group of soldiers stand in the dirt in The Old Guard 2.

Internet culture in the Digital Age moves at the snap of a finger. Thanks to the social media algorithm, what's popular today might not be talked about tomorrow. Five years feels like a lifetime. That's how long it's been since The Old Guard premiered on Netflix. It's fitting that a follow-up to a movie about a team of immortals would take its time before hitting the service. Mortals, rejoice. The wait is over. The Old Guard 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.

Charlize Theron returns for the action-packed sequel as Andy, the leader of a team of immortal mercenaries who serve as protectors of the world. The team consists of immortals Nile (KiKi Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), along with a mortal, James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Speaking of finite creatures, Andy now copes with her mortality, which affects every decision, knowing she can finally die. Andy and her team will be tested with the arrival of Discord (Uma Thurman), the very first immortal with a sinister plan that threatens the universe. To defeat Discord, Andy seeks the help of an old friend, Tuah (Henry Golding), who may hold the secrets of immortality.

Read more