In a dramatic turn of events, a sense of urgency grips the town as prominent CEOs from leading entertainment companies participate in Wednesday’s bargaining session between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Notable industry leaders, including Disney CEO Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, and NBCUniversal Studio Group Chairman and Chief Content Officer Donna Langley, have converged on this pivotal meeting, which commenced around 10 am PT.
It is a departure from the norm for the AMPTP to involve CEOs directly in bargaining sessions, typically led by labor relations representatives and senior AMPTP personnel. However, the ongoing crises resulting from the writers’ and actors’ strikes have compelled these corporate leaders to engage directly in negotiations.
According to sources on the studio side with knowledge of Wednesday’s negotiations, the CEOs have made a concerted effort to clear their schedules and engage in substantive discussions. The WGA has provided a prioritized list of issues, ranging from the most contentious to the least, ahead of the meeting. “This has been a long time coming, and everyone is feeling the impact. It’s time to get in there and reach meaningful resolutions,” one source commented.
Megalopreneur Magazine has reached out to both the WGA and the AMPTP for their comments on the situation.
Sources within the studios indicate that corporate leaders conducted preliminary negotiations via Zoom before the formal bargaining session on Wednesday. They believe that a smaller, more focused group will facilitate more productive discussions. Their goal is to convene in person and work through the complex issues at hand.
Following a prolonged absence of official talks, the AMPTP announced on September 14th that negotiations would resume the following week. In response, the Writers Guild of America assured its members that their primary focus was securing a fair deal for writers as swiftly as possible, even if it meant a period of limited communication during negotiations.
A seasoned showrunner observed that the union’s message conveyed an expectation of substantive negotiations rather than mere discussions. The gravity of the situation is not lost on the industry, as hopes are high for tangible progress.
This isn’t the first instance of direct engagement between company leaders and the WGA amid the 2023 labor conflict. On August 21st, WGA leaders met with Iger, Langley, Zaslav, Sarandos, and AMPTP President Carol Lombardini, a meeting that had its share of challenges. Shortly afterward, the AMPTP presented its offer to the union, emphasizing a strong commitment to ending the strike, while the WGA characterized the meeting with top executives as a lecture on their single counteroffer, pointing out its limitations and omissions.
As studio heads prepare to engage in Wednesday’s discussions, their schedules have been cleared, indicating the potential for extended negotiations if progress is made. Conversely, an early conclusion may suggest limited headway in addressing the writers’ strike crisis. The industry holds its breath as these high-stakes talks unfold.
