The picket lines of the Writers Guild of America disbanded, marking a pivotal moment in their ongoing negotiations with the AMPTP.
(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: A WGA support sign rests near SAG-AFTRA members picketing outside Warner Bros. Studio as the actors strike continues on September 26, 2023 in Burbank, California.
Revamping How Hollywood Works
With the strike officially paused, The Verge reported that the union members are now shifting their focus to a thorough review of the recently negotiated contract.
This agreement, recently summarized by the WGA, carries historical significance, with key victories centering on wage boosts and the incorporation of artificial intelligence.
These pay hikes span a wide spectrum, including substantial increases for productions falling under the category of "high budget subscription video on demand," a nod to major platforms like Netflix.
WGA has outlined that writers involved in streaming film projects, particularly those with budgets exceeding $30 million, are set to receive a minimum compensation boost of 18 percent.
Additionally, a substantial 26 percent increase in the residual base is on the horizon for these writers.
AI in Hollywood
In the realm of artificial intelligence, the Writers Guild of America has achieved a significant victory, securing what it has long advocated for.
The contract summary specifies that AI will be prohibited from independently creating or altering literary content, and any material generated by AI will not be eligible for use as source material.
This means that executives won't have the authority to commission AI like ChatGPT to generate a story and then task human writers with transforming it into a script that they can claim ownership of.
Furthermore, Variety reported that WGA has maintained the option to declare that using writers' content for AI training goes against the Masters of the Bargain Agreement (MBA) or other applicable laws.
This provision allows the WGA to raise concerns if legal regulations evolve or if the use of materials for AI training becomes a matter of dispute among guild members.
It is possibly linked to potential legislation in California aimed at regulating the utilization of materials in AI training processes.
Also Read: AI Versus Human: WGA Strike Sparks Debate on the Future of Writing
Power of Streaming
LA Times reported earlier this week that the world of streaming data has long remained shrouded in mystery. This opacity surrounding project performance in Hollywood has presented a quandary, as remuneration for these projects relies heavily on their success.
Under the new agreement, studios will be obligated to furnish the WGA with concrete data, specifically the total number of hours streamed, both domestically and internationally, of self-produced high-budget streaming programs.
This provision means that streaming giants like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon won't have the leeway to concoct obscure metrics or self-serving rankings for the WGA.
While the numbers may be subject to NDAs, keeping them from public view, the WGA will retain the capacity to release aggregated data. This promises a more comprehensive and enlightening insight into the streaming industry than what was previously available.
Related Article: Netflix's AI Goals Finds Compromise Between Innovation, Industry Concerns
