Hollywood director reaches deal with studio, writers strike continues

The union representing thousands of film and television directors on Sunday morning reached an agreement with Hollywood studios on a three-year contract. The deal ensures labor peace with the directors as the writers’ strike enters its sixth week.

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) said it has made “unprecedented gains”, including improvements in wages and residuals (a type of royalty) as well as railings around artificial intelligence.

“We have struck a truly historic deal,” said John Avnet, chair of the DGA’s negotiating committee. Avnet said.

The DGA’s board will consider approving the deal on Tuesday before it goes to the members for approval. If approved, it could offer a blueprint for upcoming talks between the striking writers and studios and SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents Hollywood actors.

Meanwhile, Writers Guild of America (WGA) negotiator Chris Keyser Said this time this strategy will not work. It may be noted that during the previous WGA strike in 2007 and 2008, a studio deal with the DGA prompted writers to return to the bargaining table.

“Any deal that hires back this city goes straight through the WGA, and there’s no way around it,” Keyser said.

The WGA has been on strike since May 2, shutting down many TV and film productions, and no new talks with studios are scheduled.

AI has emerged as a major concern of writers and actors, who find their jobs particularly vulnerable to the new technology.

Updated: 05 June 2023, 03:13 AM IST