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Details of the latest proposal from the Alliance of Motion
Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the trade group
representing Walt Disney, Netflix and other major studios and
streamers, remain shrouded in secrecy. Still, members of the
Writers Guild of America see reason for hope.
"I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. I was here for the 2007-8
strike and talking can go very slowly, talking can break down or
talking, if they come with a real deal, can go pretty quickly,"
"Flashpoint" writer Pam Davis told Reuters outside Amazon
Studios in Culver City.
"So, I'm kind of in the camp where I think we're gonna be back
to work in September," she added. "But if we're not, we're okay
with that. If it's not the right deal, we're not going to take
it," she added.
Writers went on strike on May 2 over an impasse on compensation,
minimum staffing in writers' rooms, residual payments and curbs
on artificial intelligence. They were joined on the picket lines
on July 14 by members of the Screen Actors Guild, effectively
halting much of U.S. film and scripted television production.
In what would be a sign of progress in a months-long labor
dispute, negotiators for the WGA and AMPTP met on Tuesday to
discuss the latest contract proposal, more than 100 days into
the strike.
"They're talking again when they weren't a couple of weeks ago,"
said WGA liaison and "Physical" writer K.C. Scott. "That's what
I'm holding onto."
Scott added that while he doesn't know what AMPTP offered the
guild, the WGA is preparing a counteroffer that he trusts will
be in the best interest of the writers.
While "Law and Order" writer and WGA liaison Terri Kopp is also
upbeat about talks with studios continuing, she is concerned
about information leaking from their confidential negotiating
sessions.
"It makes us suspicious because the leaks are designed to make
them (the studios) look good and the WGA look bad," Kopp said.
"I think there's a possibility they're trying to get our hopes
up and then pull the football out like Lucy."
(Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Dawn Chmielewski;
Editing by Sandra Maler)
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