Producers Close to Offer to Avoid Hollywood Writers’ Strike
Contract talks between AMPTP and the Writers Guild will resume Sunday
Ross A. Lincoln | April 29, 2017 @ 3:34 PM
Last Updated: April 29, 2017 @ 4:17 PM
Ahead of contract negotiations set to resume Sunday and Monday, The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is meeting today to put together a formal offer to the Writers Guild of America, TheWrap has learned.
An individual with knowledge of the situation tells TheWrap that AMPTP is working to have an offer ready when talks resume Sunday.
The meeting comes as both sides appear determined to avoid a writers’ strike like the 2007-08 walkout that shut down most film and television production for 100 days. The AMPTP and the WGA were nearing a possible deal on Friday to address key issues, including a health plan for writers, as well as the “span” issue and the option of exclusivity.
“Span” is shorthand for the amount of time writers work versus how much they’re paid. A key point of contention for writers is they say their work on shows with short episode orders often takes as much time as longer productions, but they receive less money because they’re paid per-episode. The WGA is seeking higher compensation on shows where the work schedule for writers runs more than two weeks per episode.
While the WGA remains in a media blackout and could not be reached for comment, in an update to its official blog on Friday the guild said that “our current proposals would cost a total of $156 million annually over the entire industry. For the six largest companies, who collectively reported almost $51 billion in operating profits in 2016, the cost is only $103 million.”
That’s a drop of more than $20 million from the guild’s last proposal outlined earlier this month that put the cost to the industry at $178 million a year, with the six largest firms ponying up $117 million of that. Whether this signals continuing flexibility as the May 1 deadline to reach agreement on a new contract approaches, or a line in the sand, remains to be seen.
Other key issues include stronger economic and workplace protections, and paid family leave for writers.
The current contract for film and TV writers expires on May 1. WGA and AMPTP began negotiating a new contract in early March, but those talks were discontinued March 24 when agreement could not be reached, and the WGA’s negotiating committee called for a strike authorization vote. On April 25, members overwhelmingly voted in favor of striking if an agreement cannot be reached, and the WGA returned to the negotiating table the same day.
If producers and writers fail to reach an agreement by midnight May 1, a temporary extension of the old contract may be enacted at 12:01 May 2 in order to allow talks to continue, two individuals with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap on Thursday.
Such extensions of talks are not uncommon. In 2014, for instance, SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood producers agreed to a 24-hour extension less than an hour before the existing pact ran out in order to prolong negotiations and avoid a strike.
23 TV Shows Most Affected by 2007-08 Writers' Strike (Photos)
With a potential writers strike looming if the WGA and AMPTP can't see eye to eye in their negotiations, TheWrap looks back at the 2007-2008 strike and its impact on TV shows.
"Lost" had just aired 8 episodes from it's fourth season when the strike began, and while it only had a month break, the season lost two episodes in total. They were added to season 5 and 6, respectively.
"Prison Break"
The third season of the show starring Wentworth Miller saw an extremely shortened third season, only having 13 episodes instead of 22.
The CBS show was put on halt for four months the first season it was on air, and eventually only got to 17 of the planned 22 episodes.
CBS
"Bones"
The Fox show felt a blow from the writers strike in its third season, where it was put on hiatus for four months after only 13 out of 23 episodes were filmed. When the strike ended, only two more were filmed.
Fox
"Desperate Housewives"
The hit show also received a shortened season and a three-month break.
ABC
"Family Guy"
The fox animated series had 9 completed episodes before the strike began although 22 were planned. When the strike ended, only 3 more were produced.
Fox
"Friday Night Lights"
The second season of the show ended in a huge cliffhanger and seven of the 22 episodes NBC ordered weren't made. The third season returned eight month after the show had to be halted due to the strike.
NBC
"Gossip Girl"
The show starring Blake Lively and Leighton Meester also saw a three-month break due to the writers strike, as well as a shorter-than-expected season.
CW
"Grey's Anatomy"
Only 16 of the 23 of the fourth season ordered by ABC were made due to the writers strike.
ABC
"Heroes"
"Heroes" pretty much derailed the second season due to the strike. It only had 11 episodes out of 24 air, and none were filmed after the strike ended. The show returned nine months later.
The U.S. version of the sitcom missed 11 episodes due to the strike and saw five month break between seasons 4 and 5.
NBC
"One Tree Hill"
The show's fifth season missed out on four episodes because of the strike.
CW
"Scrubs"
According to Uproxx, Bill Lawrence was ready to end "Scrubs" after season 7, but then the strike happened and only 11 episodes were aired. The show then moved over to ABC and two episodes produced after the strike aired as part of the eighth season.
ABC
"The Unit"
The third season aired on Sept. 25, 2007 before the hiatus occurred after the 11th episode. The show returned five months later for the fourth and final season.
CBS
"Battlestar Galactica"
Only 11 out of 20 episodes were aired before the show was postponed.
Sci-Fi Channel
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Shows like “Prison Break,” “Breaking Bad” and “Friday Night Lights” were just a few of the shows that saw a shortened season due to the 100-day strike
With a potential writers strike looming if the WGA and AMPTP can't see eye to eye in their negotiations, TheWrap looks back at the 2007-2008 strike and its impact on TV shows.