Wednesday 25 October 2023 / 12:37
In a positive indication of the progress of negotiations between major production companies and the American Artists Guild to end the Hollywood strike, the two parties to the dispute returned to the discussion table, on Wednesday, to continue the discussions they resumed yesterday, Tuesday.
Fear of delaying the release of more films if the strike continues into the next month
Studios are aiming to save the box office in summer 2024
The union called on its members not to be complacent and to continue being present at the sit-in sites
According to the magazine “VarietyThe union resumed negotiations on Tuesday for the first time in about two weeks, and the studios presented a new offer, hoping to break the deadlock that led to a strike that lasted 103 days.
Save revenue
The broad title that the major American production studios are seeking to achieve will be “Saving the Box Office in the Summer of 2024,” for which to date no work has been monitored for display.
In a brief statement, the union provided a brief update on the latest talks, reassuring its members of a positive step in the negotiations that began yesterday, Tuesday, and will continue today, stressing that it will reveal the details of the discussions as soon as possible, and asking members not to listen to what is published in the media.. The union called on its members. In the statement, they said: “Continue showing up on picket lines and making your voices heard across the country.”
The studios presented new offers related to various outstanding items, ranging from financial returns, to the role of artificial intelligence in business, to the collective labor contract, which guarantees the rights of filmmakers in old age and retirement.
After a dramatic pause… he gave up
Negotiations resumed yesterday, Tuesday, after a dramatic pause about two weeks ago, as a result of the union, on the one hand, and the Production Studios Union, on the other hand, adhering to their positions, which resulted in a financial gap between the two parties amounting to 480 million dollars.
However… as a result of the strike exceeding its 100th day the day before yesterday, and the lack of planning to show any cinematic work or even a special or theatrical broadcast during the summer season of 2024, it was necessary to compromise, especially by the union, and return to the negotiating table.
Al-Ittihad: The situation is very critical
In turn, the Federation indicated in a future statement that satisfactory solutions had been reached for the clause regulating artificial intelligence, but what is still embarrassing for both parties is the minimum compensation, in addition to the financial rights resulting from digital sales.
The Union confirmed its keenness to reach a collective work contract as soon as possible, not exceeding a week or 10 days, to save the summer movie season, and the remainder of the television season, especially digital broadcasting 2023-2024.
Little chance of rescue
He stressed that if the strike continued into November, the fear was that the release of more films would be delayed, and there would be little chance of producing even half a season of network television.
While the Artists Syndicate’s hopes were strengthened that it would soon obtain the rights, as a result of receiving a call from Disney CEO Bob Iger, inviting it to resume negotiations, offers emerged from a number of major stars, such as George Clooney, to bear part of the expenses to facilitate the return of the film industry to the right track.
