Directors’ deal

The “Doomsday” scenario of three major Hollywood unions going on strike simultaneously has been avoided. Over the weekend, the union that represents thousands of film and television directors reached a tentative three-year deal with the studios, even as 11,000 writers remain on strike (talks begin tomorrow with the actors’ union, according to the NYT). What’s in the deal: better wages (a 5 per cent increase for the first year) and more streaming royalties, as well as a “groundbreaking agreement” confirming in writing that AI is not a person and a promise not to replace directors with generative artificial intelligence. Hollywood writers want similar protections. But, for now, the studios and writers’ union have not resumed negotiations.