Hollywood writers and studio executives have met to discuss the possibility of resuming contract talks, as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike approaches the 100-day mark. The strike has had a significant economic impact on Los Angeles and California, where film and television production accounts for more than 700,000 jobs and nearly $70 billion a year in wages. Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming weeks, with the hope that a deal can be reached that is beneficial to both sides.
Posts tagged as “Access Hollywood”
Actor Mark Margolis, best known for his Emmy-nominated performance in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul," has passed away at the age of 83. His manager Robert Kolker described him as a "lifelong friend" and his son Morgan Margolis said he was an "incredibly talented actor and an even better father." Margolis' career spanned decades and included appearances in films such as "Scarface," "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," and "American Horror Story: Asylum."
After nearly 100 days of striking, Hollywood writers and producers have finally agreed to reopen negotiations. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have been in a stalemate since early May, when 11,500 film and TV writers began striking for more equitable wages and working conditions. Carol Lombardini, the studio negotiator, has requested a meeting for Friday to discuss the possibility of resuming negotiations, marking the first sign of movement in the dispute. The meeting does not guarantee a resolution, but it is a positive step forward in the process and hopefully will lead to a beneficial agreement for both sides.
City Controller Kenneth Mejia is investigating whether Universal Studios has resorted to shady measures to retaliate against writers and actors on the picket lines, after before and after photos of trees outside the studio showed them trimmed down, preventing union members from receiving shade in the hot weather. The incident has sparked outrage among union members and has highlighted the need for better working conditions for writers and actors.
Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA, has declared that artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to creative professions, leading to a strike of 65,000 Hollywood actors and 11,000 script writers. The unions are demanding a contract that would guarantee actors fair pay and control over how their work is used in the future, protecting them from exploitation by AI.
Hollywood stars Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, and Fran Drescher have joined forces to support the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in their fight for fair wages. The union is calling for increased wages, better residuals, and improved safety protocols for performers, and the strike is the first major strike by the union in more than 40 years. The strike is expected to have a major impact on the entertainment industry, with many productions likely to be delayed or halted due to the lack of union actors.
After two weeks of negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed to reach an agreement, SAG-AFTRA has voted to go on strike. The union's chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, said the strike will begin at midnight and affect 65,000 actors, potentially crippling film and TV productions across the U.S. and impacting the entertainment industry.
Negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have broken down, leading to the possibility of a strike by thousands of actors represented by SAG-AFTRA. The union is demanding better pay, improved safety protocols, and more transparency from the studios, as well as residual payments for streaming services. The AMPTP has not yet commented on the situation, but the two sides are likely to continue to negotiate in the coming days.