It’s the disagreement that has shut down Hollywood, and as the days tick along, the impact will soon be felt by viewers everywhere.

The distance between the parties on the main issue at hand, pay and the role of AI, are so vast, it’s probably time to ask a simple question.

What happens if they can never agree?

Negotiators from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and representatives of major studios met to discuss the possibility of resuming contract talks amidst the three-month-long Hollywood writers’ strike.

However, the guild stated that no agreement was reached during the meeting.

According to the WGA, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios such as Walt Disney and Netflix, expressed the need to consult with its member studios before proceeding with further negotiations. The AMPTP has not issued a public statement following the meeting and has yet to respond to requests for comment.

The writers’ strike began on May 2, with approximately 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America demanding better pay, fair streaming residuals, and other issues, including restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence.

In its statement after the meeting, the WGA revealed that while the AMPTP was open to increasing offers on specific TV minimums for writers and discussing AI-related matters, it did not show willingness to address other important concerns raised by screenwriters and other proposals.

The guild emphasized the need for a comprehensive response from the AMPTP on all work areas, along with addressing issues stemming from the strike, including extending health care benefits, additional plan funding, reinstating striking writers, and arbitrating disputes arising during the strike.

The dual strikes involving both writers and actors have had a significant negative impact on the economy, affecting various small businesses supporting the entertainment industry, such as florists, caterers, and costume suppliers.

No agreement

Before the meeting, both the writers’ guild and studios exchanged pointed statements.

The WGA’s negotiating committee called on studios to abandon the tactics used during the previous writers’ strike in 2007-08, accusing them of spreading misinformation about the strike’s real impact.

The AMPTP responded by stating that the discussion would determine if they have a willing bargaining partner and that their main focus is getting people back to work.

The strikes have resulted in significant disruptions, halting most work on scripted series for the upcoming fall TV season and film production. Warner Bros Discovery warned investors that the strikes’ uncertainty could lead to delays in film releases and impact content production and delivery.

Surviving the strike

Many streaming platforms and entertainment providers are now looking to live linear broadcasting to overcome the challenges faced by an ongoing strike.