Authors Respond to Directors Guild AMPTP Contract Agreement WGA Takes Stand

Authors Respond to Directors Guild-AMPTP Contract Agreement: “WGA Takes Stand, DGA Reaps Rewards”

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Response to the signing of the contract by DGA Studios

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The reaction comes after the Directors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year deal late Saturday night. Striking writers are expressing disappointment with their sister union, while showing determination in their own fight for a fair deal with the studios. And with the succession finale still on the agenda, many are using memes from the saga of corporate intrigue and insidiousness to illustrate their reactions on social media.

“I wasn’t there in 2008 but from what I’ve heard it feels like it,” a writer working on streaming series told Deadline Sunday. “The WGA takes a stand, the DGA reaps the rewards.”

A veteran showrunner assessed the implications of the DGA pact while also looking ahead to the SAG-AFTRA strike authorization vote, which ends Monday.

“The two guilds have many different issues this year, that’s a fact, but no one can say that this deal won’t change the dynamic,” a veteran showrunner told Deadline today. “The outcome of this SAG-AFTRA vote is the next big hurdle. If they vote against a strike… well, I don’t know, it’s going to be tough.”

Another WGA member added: “We went on strike because the studios devalued us. From what I read this morning, for us the DGA agreement only affects balances. Otherwise, I think the impact will not be great.”

Another author had a slightly different opinion on the impact of the DGA deal on the WGA.

“I mean, I just want to go back to work. That’s DGA’s deal – shit, but I understand they did it,” the person said. “Not much will change for us. In fact, it will change something for us: we will become more determined to fight for a fair deal for ourselves.”

Here’s a sample of the Twitter reactions from striking writers and their supporters talking about the DGA-AMPTP deal:

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amy mountain posted a multi-tweet thread That began with, “I’m thrilled that the DGA was able to use the power of the WGA’s industrial action to secure a deal that works for them.” She added, “We proposed a number of these terms … before the AMPTP passed the.” Negotiations broke off to hand DGA a deal.” They will continue not to speak to us and offer them alongside SAG. But we have needs in areas where there isn’t and will make a deal that works for us. That’s not it.”

Oscar and Emmy winner Travor Free tweeted: “As a DGA member, this deal looks great. As a WGA member, this deal is proof that the AMPTP simply doesn’t respect authors. The fact that you can strike a historic deal with the people who can’t even do their job until the writers do their job screams everything you need to know about AMPTP.”

So did Amy Thurlow, President of Dick Clark Productions posted a thread on Sunday morning. Hers began with: “Just a reminder that they made a deal with DGA hoping to pit us against each other. Don’t fall for it. The enemy is not the DGA, but the AMPTP.”

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There were some reactions to the topic of succession:

And tweets kept coming:

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Earlier this morning, veteran writer-director DeKnight (Spartacus, Daredevil) tweeted about the DGA deal: “We expected that. “Changes absolutely nothing,” followed by several clenched fist emojis.

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Robert King, co-creator of the Good Wife series and co-creator of Evil, was a bit more optimistic about the DGA’s deal with the WGA:

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