27-9-2023 (LOS ANGELES) The leaders of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced on Tuesday that the nearly five-month-long strike by Hollywood writers had come to an end after board members approved a contract agreement with studios. The governing boards of both the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America voted to accept the deal and declared that the strike would officially be over. Writers would be free to resume work starting at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.
While the writers still need to vote to ratify the contract themselves, the decision to lift the strike allows them to work during the ratification process. The Writers Guild informed its members of this development via an email. However, Hollywood actors remain on strike, with no talks scheduled at present.
Actors who were picketing on Tuesday for the first time since writers reached their tentative deal on Sunday night expressed a newfound sense of optimism. Marissa Cuevas, an actor known for her appearances on TV series such as “Kung Fu” and “The Big Bang Theory,” remarked that she had initially believed the strike would continue into the following year. However, learning that the writers had secured a favorable deal gave her hope that actors would also be able to negotiate a satisfactory agreement.
Picket lines for writers have been suspended, but they were encouraged to show solidarity with actors, and many writers joined the picket lines on Tuesday. “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, a strong supporter of the strikes, picketed alongside his friend and “ER” actor Noah Wyle, as he has done throughout the strike.
In a separate development, striking actors voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market. This move could exert additional pressure on Hollywood studios to reach a deal with actors who provide voices and perform stunts for video games. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced on Monday that 98 percent of its members voted to go on strike against video game companies if ongoing negotiations fail. Talks were scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Acting in video games encompasses various roles, including voice performances, motion capture work, and stunts. Video game actors previously went on strike in 2016, resulting in a work stoppage lasting nearly a year. The negotiations for video game actors involve similar issues to the broader actors’ strike, such as wages, safety measures, and protections regarding the use of artificial intelligence. The companies involved in the video game negotiations include Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take 2 Productions, as well as the video game divisions of Disney and Warner Bros.
