Exclusive: The Truth Behind WGA Members' Housing Crisis During Strike - Studios' Shocking Response!

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has denied accusations that it is intentionally delaying renegotiations with the Writer's Guild of America until its members are in a dire financial state due to the ongoing writer's strike.

A spokesperson from AMPTP, which consists of Warner Bros Discovery, Apple, Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and Paramount, stated on July 12 that these unidentified individuals do not represent the organization or its member companies. AMPTP and its member companies are dedicated to reaching a resolution and restoring productivity in the industry. This statement follows a report from the outlet stating that AMPTP intended to delay meeting with WGA until October, potentially leading writers to face financial hardships and risk losing their homes.

The negotiations for a new contract between the WGA and AMPTP initially failed on May 1. This marked the first strike by the guild in more than 15 years. The WGA's demands at the time included an updated contract that accurately recognizes the prevailing media landscape, which is characterized by shorter seasons and streaming platforms.

In their letter announcing the strike, the WGA underlined their pursuit of "fair compensation that appropriately acknowledges the significance of our contributions to the success of the companies, while also ensuring the long-term viability of writing as a profession."

The AMPTP, however, believed they had offered ample compensation. "Negotiations between the AMPTP and the WGA concluded without an agreement today," the AMPTP stated in a Variety interview. "Last night, the AMPTP presented a comprehensive package proposal to the Guild that included generous increases in compensation for writers and improvements in streaming residuals. Additionally, the AMPTP expressed willingness to enhance the offer further, but refrained from doing so due to other proposals from the Guild that were still under consideration. The main points of contention are the Guild's demand for mandatory staffing and a specified duration of employment, which would require companies to employ a certain number of writers for a specific period, regardless of necessity."

While the Directors Guild of America also went on strike in late May, the AMPTP swiftly negotiated and accepted their demands, initiating a deal last month. SAG-AFTRA, on the other hand, plans to support the WGA on the picket lines because the AMPTP failed to compromise on contract agreements. Originally scheduled to strike once their current contract expired on June 30, SAG-AFTRA agreed to an extension until Thursday, July 13 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Improved compensation and benefits, residuals in the face of streaming service expansion, and regulated use of artificial intelligence are the main concerns for actors in the negotiations for a new agreement. SAG-AFTRA negotiators, while agreeing to AMPTP's request for a federal mediator, expressed their doubts about the employers' willingness to negotiate towards a resolution. The ongoing writer's strike has already caused delays and cancellations in productions, as well as affecting awards shows and late-night programming. If actors participate in the strike, all remaining scripted series in production would be forced to shut down immediately.