WGA Tentative Deal Part 2

 After 148 days on a gruelling strike, the WGA (Writers Guild of America) reached a tentative deal. When the negotiations began in spring earlier this year, the WGA made it very publicly known that they were willing to go on strike and that is exactly what they did. This resulted in a complete stoppage of work, and their allies at SAG-AFTRA quickly came to their aid and began their own strike (which is still ongoing). Upon completion of the negotiations, the WGA made a public statement congratulating everyone who held strong during the tough times.

The tentative deal emerged after 5 straight days of negotiations, and seemed better than what most had expected to come out of the peace talks. However, not everyone is jumping for joy at the new tentative deal. Some are even backlashing it.

Barry Diller rips new deal on live televison

Here is the rest of what is found within the tentative deal:

• Artificial Intelligence cannot write or rewrite literary material, and the AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA. Therefore, it cannot be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separate lawful rights.

• Any writer can choose to use Artificial Intelligence when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided the writer follows applicable company policies. The company cannot require the writer to use Artificial Intelligence software when performing writing services.

• The company must disclose to all writers if any materials given to the writer have been generated by Artifical Intelligence and/or if they are going to use AI-generated material.

• The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.

• A second step is required whenever a writer is hired for a first draft screenplay for 200% of minimum or less, including original and non-original screenplays. This includes scripts bought outside of the usual development process.

• Screenwriters earning 200% of the WGA minimum or less must be paid half of that at the start of the deal. 

• If a draft is not delivered within 9 weeks, another 25% of the fee is due with the remaining 25% to be paid after delivery of a draft.

• There will be an 18% gain on minimum pay for story and teleplay for all made-for-streaming films. This will rise to $100,000 for movies with a budget of $30 million or more.

• Each writer on a writing team employed for a script will receive pension and health contributions up to the relevant cap as though they were a single writer, rather than splitting the applicable cap.

• When a writing team is employed on a series, the contribution for each writer on the team will be made on the full weekly minimum instead of one-half of the weekly minimum.

This is a massive win for the Writers Guild of America, and congratulations are well deserved to the WGA tentative deal.

Also by Drew Janine:

Three Quarters of Film and TV Workers Out of Work

Les Miserables Interrupted By Protesters

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