There was some progress this week towards resolving the ongoing dispute between Hollywood’s writers and studios. On Wednesday, negotiators from the WGA and AMPTP met for the first time since August. At the end of the day, a simple joint statement was issued that the parties had met, which would continue the following day.
While it may seem unremarkable, this was the first joint statement issued by the parties during the four-and-one-half-month-old walkout. In a dispute defined by contentiousness, this simple, joint statement can be seen as a promising sign.
Some media outlets even speculated that it was a sign that a final deal was near at hand. Moreover, once a settlement is reached between the studios and writers, the parallel strike between the studios and actors may also be close.
If it lasts two more weeks, the current strike will become the longest in Hollywood history and has begun to negatively impact the entire industry.
See also: Can New Talks End the Writers Strike Fast? Optimism, the Sequel! (Vanity Fair)