Hollywood Writers and Agencies Go Past the Brink; Mass Firings Begin

By Christine Zosche 

Negotiations between Hollywood writers and agencies over an expiring agreement ended Friday not with a deal, as some had hoped, but with a fusillade of accusations. And so in an unprecedented turn of events, the writers were asked by their guild to fire their agents. (WaPo)

Members began sending the dismissal letters to agencies soon after the announcement that negotiations for a new agreement with agencies had collapsed. (Variety)

The Writers Guild of America has 15,000 members, so the action could have sweeping consequences. This mass firing of agents has never happened before, so no one quite knows what’s going to happen or how long it’s going to last. (CNN)

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The WGA has accused some agents of “packaging” and making affiliate producer deals that cut writers out of profit shares. (Vanity Fair / HWD)

The Association of Talent Agents said on Sunday that it plans to continue to fight for writer clients while pushing against what it calls the Writers Guild of America’s “threat to our agency business operations.” (TheWrap)

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