148 days, a struggle that will define the entertainment industry once and for all, and it is coming to an end. On September 27th, The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced that they will be lifting the strike.
According to the Guild’s statement, the strike will end at 12:01 am Pacific Time (8:01 am BST) on Wednesday.
The new details state that there is an increment in terms of the minimum payment for creative work. Their payment will increase by 5%, then by 4% next year, and 3.5% in 2025, it added.
Now, in terms of AI usage, the sky still isn’t as bright as a summer’s day, but it makes work a bit more flexible for the writers. Though the studios have the upper hand when it comes to using any form of artificial intelligence, the agreement reads that the writers will be recognized and fairly compensated for their contributions to scripts.
Even if a screenplay is formulated by modern tech such as AI, anyone involved in the craft of making it will be credited and paid. Besides this, the studios have agreed that they should be allowed to train AI based on such material, given that it’s already being done by technology companies.
Though there are certain unclear grounds about the training of the AI, as the companies are yet to announce if the writers who have contributed to the materials will be paid or not.
The strike indeed was a success as the industry is now thriving for new shows and content. Some big movies have been postponed for a fair few months, and movies like Dune are aiming for a 2024 release. Amidst all the shenanigans, the creative backbone of the entertainment industry found its voice, and the suits had to listen.
