The WGA’s agreement with studios compromised on minimum wage increases, bonus payments for writers who pitch on hit shows, and guarantees that scripts using AI would not undercut human writers and their salaries.
Many of these issues coincide with the actors’ demands, and SAG-AFTRA negotiators will consider the finer details ahead of their talks with studios this week.
But, Handel cautioned, many of SAG-AFTRA’s demands go beyond what writers can demand. These include a huge increase in salaries to combat rampant inflation and a real share of the revenue for hit streaming shows.
Studios will be wary that what they offer actors may be demanded by other Hollywood businesses such as movie set crews and technicians whose own contracts are up for renewal next year.
“I think base pay is going to be a big hurdle toward a SAG deal in the next few weeks because of pattern bargaining,” Handel said.
