Writers Guild Seeks Critical Information From CAA, WME as Talks Continue

The Writers Guild of America West released a new memo on Wednesday to its members outlining the progress in its talks with William Morris Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency, saying that they have requested more information on the nature of their ownership of affiliate production companies. “In short: our conversations continue,” the Guild’s negotiating committee said. “For there to be an agreement with CAA and WME, we must negotiate divestment terms that absolutely protect writers’ interests.” Despite a major setback for the WGA early this year when several key elements of their lawsuit were dismissed, the damaging financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought the agencies back to the negotiating table as they seek to end a more-than-year-long walkout of writer clients. United Talent Agency and ICM Partners have signed a new franchise agreement requiring them to phase out packaging fees — payments from a studio to an agency in exchange for packaging talent for a project — within the next two years. While packaging fees were the key issue in the guild/agency standoff, it is affiliate production companies that remain the final hurdle between the WGA and CAA and WME signing a similar agreement. The Guild has accused...

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