WGA and AMPTP to begin contract negotiations.

<div class="block">The Writer&#39;s Guild of America is set to begin negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Among items expected to be hammered out: watch per stream rates and the use of artificial intelligence in screen writing. Cheddar News senior reporter Michelle Castillo talked about what is expected to come out of day one of negotiations.</div>

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Hollywood Writers Begin Negotiations With Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers

The A MP TP, President Carol Lombardi asked the WG A negotiating committee to meet today and it is expected that Lombardi's negotiating team will have some responses to WG A proposals. Now, the central topics up for debate revolve around streaming residuals or that's payment for each time a person watches an episode of streaming TV, and the use of A I and screenwriting. But there are plenty of other topics, both sides are trying to agree on. So in letter to WG A union members, it's negotiating committee said, quote, our committee returns to the bargaining table ready to make a fair deal knowing the unified WG A membership stands behind us and is buoyed by the ongoing support of our union allies. This is a promising move. You may remember last Friday, the WG A and the A MP TP met, but this was more of a meeting to start talking than an actual negotiation. It was only between the WG chief negotiator Ellen Stutzman and WG A general counsel, Tony Siegel as well as Lombardi and it only lasted an hour with both sides stalemating on WG a hard line on establishing minimum staffing numbers for episodic TV. And also guaranteeing a minimum number of weeks of, of employment, which unfortunately, the A MP TP said are non starters. So do we know any more about what happened during that August 4th meeting and how it may influence what happens today? Well, the WG A did tell union members that Lombardi said the current directors Guild of America deal would be the guidelines for all future deals with other unions. She also did express openness to talk about writer specific TV minimums and A I, which is one of the big talking points. However, keeping writers rooms intact or residuals, which is also another big point is off the table. In addition, the WG A had asked at that time that the A MP DP to address other issues that have arisen from the strike, think about things like health care benefit extensions and additional funding for supporting writers at this time. Interestingly enough, they are also seeking the right for WG A members to honor other unions pickets even if the negotiations between their unions are resolved. So this means that if the Actors Guild Sag A doesn't come to an agreement with the A MP TP as well. Writers may opt not to work until every everyone has a deal in place. So in response, Lamborghini repeated three times during the meeting, quote, people just want to get back to work, which is not really a great start. No, not, not at all. So what is the cost of the entertainment industry as the strike now continues? I think 100 and three or 100 4 days, you know, um Milken Institute estimated that the 2007, 2008 writers strike cost the California economy about $2 billion. It also said that the figure could double during this strike considering it's a combined writers and actors strike and a Cal State Northridge professor professor has pegged the financial impact on this current strike at $3 billion.10. That's just for the 1st 100 days. See, it's not just the writers and the actors who are on strike. Think about many non union jobs that rely on the entertainment industry that might include makeup artists or even local caterers. They're all being affected by the film stoppages.