Hollywood writers reach tentative deal, paving way for SAG strike resolution

The Writers Guild of America (WGA), representing over 11,000 screenwriters, has reached a contract with entertainment companies, ending the five-month-long writer’s strike. The strike began in early May, over the use of artificial intelligence in Hollywood and its potential infringement on writers' credits and compensation, as reported by The New York Times. 

With the writer’s strike expected to end Wednesday, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strike remains ongoing, impacting tens of thousands of actors. The agreement between the WGA and entertainment companies may speed up negotiations with SAG-AFTRA as some of its concerns echo those raised by the writers. 

The SAG-AFTRA strike began on July 14, primarily in response to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking. AI has allowed studios the ability to create digital replicas of actors, raising concerns over compensation and ethics. As part of the strike, actors are demanding fair wages and residuals for the continued use of their image. 

Although a deal has been met with WGA, the Hollywood shutdown is still underway. According to Crain’s Chicago Buisiness, SAG-AFTRA and Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) will need to reach a new labor agreement before filming can resume. As Hollywood continues to feel the impact of the ongoing labor dispute, the tentative deal brings some hope for future stability and productivity in the entertainment industry.