Zoom Image

Strike in front of Universal Studios

Photo: Rick Taber / AP

Hollywood is at a standstill. But the strike of US screenwriters, which has been going on for almost 100 days, is now showing a glimmer of hope. The chairman of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) had asked for a meeting to talk about negotiations, the U.S. Writers' Union (WGA) said. The meeting should take place on Friday. Screenwriters are demanding better pay and greater profit-sharing in the face of the great growth of streaming services.

So far, the screenwriters have received a fixed annual salary from the platforms – even though Netflix series such as "Bridgerton" or "Stranger Things" are becoming worldwide successes and are watched by hundreds of millions of viewers. In addition, the series often remain on the platforms for years. The authors therefore call for a revision of the current rules for their remuneration.

The AMPTP is negotiating on behalf of Walt Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, and other major film studios. An AMPTP spokesperson told Reuters that the alliance was looking to find a mutually beneficial solution, but without giving further details.

Emmy awards also in jeopardy

The strike of about 11,500 writers has caused late-night shows to cancel new episodes, most productions have been interrupted for the fall television season, and work on major motion pictures has come to a standstill.

Since mid-July, actors in the US film and television industry have also been on strike. They demand higher fees as well as assurances about the future use of artificial intelligence. The first double strike in Hollywood in six decades had massively disrupted film production. According to media reports, the Emmy Awards ceremony scheduled for September 18 could also be postponed. However, talks between the studio bosses and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have not yet been announced.

The labor dispute costs the entertainment industry and the economy in California several million dollars a day. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) represents around 160,000 actors, including stars such as Sean Penn.

czl/AFP/Reuters