Hollywood Writers and Studio Executives Reopen Communication in Hopes of Resolving WGA Strike

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Hollywood writers and studio executives met on Friday for the first time in three months to discuss the possibility of resuming contract talks, as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike approaches the 100-day mark. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her encouragement for the reopening of communication, as the strike has had a significant economic impact on the city.

The WGA, which consists of 11,500 members, began their strike on May 2 due to an impasse over pay, streaming residuals and other issues such as the use of artificial intelligence. This was followed by the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which consists of approximately 65,000 actors, joining the picket lines in mid-July. This has resulted in nearly all scripted Hollywood production being shut down.

The economic impact of the strike has been especially heightened in California, where film and television production accounts for more than 700,000 jobs and nearly $70 billion a year in wages, according to the California Film Commission. This has resulted in a significant loss of income for many of the workers in the industry, as well as a decrease in the amount of money being spent in the local economy.

The WGA and the studios have yet to reach an agreement, but the reopening of communication is a positive sign that a resolution may be reached soon. Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming weeks, and the hope is that a deal can be reached that is beneficial to both sides.