The strike will likely continue for an extended period as there was no solid outcome from the latest meeting arrangement between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). This meeting was their first since May 1st, and similar to the previous one, both parties were unable to find common ground on the matter.
The meeting took place at the Sherman Oaks headquarters of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and lasted for over an hour. However, it was more fruitful for the writers as they were able to make a statement.
From the WGA’s side, chief negotiator Ellen Stutzman and West general counsel Tony Segall made it very clear that the guild won’t bend on their proposals. Establishing minimum staffing levels in episodic TV and a guaranteed minimum number of weeks of employment have been the two primary pillars for the writers, and this ‘No Conclusion’ will make their statement even clearer.
Later, the guild provided the meeting summary to its members, and they were very clear that they continue to face a lack of cooperation from the studios, who remain reluctant to address the important issues.
Furthermore, the AMPTP is not open to negotiating a residual based on viewership, which is a significant concern for writers, along with other matters.
On the other hand, AMPTP is showing resilience regarding the demands. During the meeting, there were even flairs of desperation as Carol Lombardini, the CEO of AMPTP, continuously said, “People just want to get back to work.”
