Can New Talks End the Writers Strike Fast? Optimism, the Sequel!

“Hopes have been dashed many times before, but: ‘There’s a sense around town that they’re going to get it done.’”

From Vanity Fair:

Hollywood may be full of storytellers, but they’ve been struggling to write an ending for the writers strike. A hoped-for deal in July between the Writers Guild of America and the biggest studios never materialized. Instead, some 160,000 actors joined writers on the picket lines. A round of August talks between the WGA and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers only inflamed tensions, and Labor Day came and went without a resolution. Now, the work stoppage is stretching into its fifth month, threatening to paralyze production for the remainder of the year, and people are desperate for good news. Maybe that’s why even those who’ve been burned before are feeling hopeful one more time about a new meeting.

“There’s optimism,” says a well-placed studio source. “People are feeling the economic pressure and the realities of how long this has gone on. It’s impacting everyone, from the biggest corporations to the hairstylists to the restaurants. There’s a shared desire to get back to work.” At screenings this week, reps for top talent have been giddy at the possibility of a deal. On the picket lines, writers have had an extra pep in their step. Adds another source with studio connections, “There’s a sense around town that they’re going to get it done.”

Face to face negotiations resumed Wednesday. The fact that several CEOs are participating including Bob Iger (Disney), Ted Sarandos (Netflix), David Zaslav (Warner Bros. Discovery) & Donna Langley (Universal) is presumably a good sign.

Unless …

The suits do some posturing, then leak upbeat rumors through the trades (which they actually did Wednesday night) raising everyone’s expectations, then walk away claiming, “We had a deal, but the Guild rejected it.”

That’s the cynic in me speaking.

The fact the talks continued yesterday — apparently over eight hours —should be seen as a good sign.

I say should. Here’s what the Guild has sent to its members.

Minimum words. Maximum impact. That’s a mantra I use with my film school students … how they need to approach writing scenes in a screenplay. Clearly, the WGA Negotiating Committee subscribes to that principle. Less is more!

So here we are. Today is scheduled to be the third consecutive day of negotiations.

Fingers crossed … knock on wood … and say your prayers.

A fair deal for writers. That’s what we want.

To read the rest of the Vanity Fair article, go here.

#WGAStrong

For the latest updates on the strike and news resources, go here.

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