New Location for Chip and Dale Meet & Greet in the Magic Kingdom
There’s a new location for the Chip and Dale meet & greet in Magic Kingdom! The spunky chipmunks are now greeting guests in Tomorrowland and wearing some cool, futuristic outfits.
The duo previously met guests in Fantasyland. We aren’t sure if this change in location is a permanent thing or temporary.
We found Chip and Dale meeting guests yesterday next to the Buzz Lightyear meet and greet area near Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. They are dressed in science-fiction-inspired outfits. Each of them is sporting a futuristic vest and a half-helmet.
Do you like to meet Chip and Dale when you visit Magic Kingdom?
If you’d like help planning your next visit to Walt Disney World, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
This week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, guests were treated to a heartwarming spectacle – the birth of a baby addax. And we are happy to announce-it’s a girl! Lavender, the proud mom, surprised everyone by delivering her precious calf a bit earlier than expected. Fortunately, the little one is healthy, and mother and daughter are already forming a close bond as they roam the savanna together. The joy radiating from the keepers and delighted guests was palpable.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to over 30 species of African wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, kudu, and flamingos. Guests can use the Wildlife Field Guide provided in their room to identify each species, with extras available at the Front Desk. Plus, guests can deepen their understanding of African animals and ecosystems through engaging programs led by Animal Specialists.
Accommodations available at Animal Kingdom Lodge include:
Rooms and Suites (sleep up to 4 adults)
Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 8 adults)
Deluxe Studios (sleep up to 4 adults)
Deluxe Studios with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 4 adults)
1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas (sleep up to 12 adults)
Villas with Club-Level Service (sleeps up to 5 adults)
Villas come equipped with a fully-equipped kitchen, spacious living and dining areas, separate bedrooms for privacy, and even a washer and dryer. Studios and Deluxe Studios feature kitchenettes and comfortable sleeping arrangements.
To cool off after a long day at the parks, guests can escape to the 11,000-square-foot Uzima Pool area, where they will find an exhilarating waterslide and a gently sloping, zero-depth entry point reminiscent of a natural watering hole. Surrounded by majestic canopy trees and swaying Floridian palms, Uzima Pool offers a children’s wading pool and two relaxing whirlpool spas.
For even more aquatic adventures, guests can head over to Samawati Springs Pool. This oasis boasts a thrilling waterslide, two inviting whirlpool spas, and Uwanja Camp – a water playground inspired by an animal observation site, complete with squirting Venus flytraps, a rope bridge, water cannons, and more. Here guests will find Samawati Springs Pool just a short stroll away at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village.
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
The Edison is hosting a Historic Perspective of Mixology in October
Is history dry and uninviting? Not when you’re sipping expertly crafted cocktails that transport you through the ages. Step into The Edison’s world as our mixologists embark on a centuries-long journey, whisking you away from Victorian London to 21st-century America. Each era’s drink is carefully paired with delectable small bites to elevate both the experience and your spirits.
While times change, the allure of exquisitely mixed cocktails remains timeless. From the mystical absinthe to the classic Negroni, and from the venerable old-fashioned to the zesty margarita, there’s nothing quite like these meticulously concocted libations.
The Edison’s skilled mixologists are crafting eight historically inspired libation stations, with an exclusive bonus station for VIP ticket holders.
1682: Victorian Punch Bowl
Food Pairing: Sugarcane grilled yakitori shrimp, local honey, sambal
Food Pairing: Guacamole station with house chips, plantain, taro, and purple potato
2014: Zero Proof Station
Food Pairing: Refreshing ice pops in cucumber + melon, mango + basil, and watermelon + strawberry flavors
★ VIP Bonus Station
1908: Clover Club
Food Pairing: A-5 tataki served with a 20-year balsamic reduction and juniper sea salt
Ticketing
General admission: $75
Guaranteed seating: $90
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
These coffee pairings provide the perfect way to celebrate National Coffee Day at Walt Disney World
National Coffee Day is just around the corner on September 29th, and this year, we’re celebrating in style at Walt Disney World. Join us on a caffeinated adventure as we explore the perfect pairings for your park day featuring Joffrey’s Coffee. Plus, we’ve got a special treat in store for you to ensure you get your caffeine fix regardless of what park(s) you visit!
Joffrey’s kiosks and stores across Walt Disney World Resort are rolling out a fantastic offer on National Coffee Day: $1.00 hot (16 oz.) or iced (24 oz.) Walt Disney World Resort Blend drip coffee. This deal is your ticket to fueling your Disney day with a brew-tiful adventure at the park, so let’s dive into the park-specific coffee and snack pairings that will make your visit truly magical.
Magic Kingdom Park: Mission to S’mores Latte and S’mores Cookie
Start your day at Magic Kingdom Park with an otherworldly experience at Joffrey’s Revive Kiosk in Tomorrowland. Indulge in the Mission to S’mores Latte, a delightful concoction featuring chocolate sauce, marshmallow syrup, whipped cream, graham crackers, and fluffy marshmallows. Pair this sweet treat with Joffrey’s soft and fresh S’mores Cookie for an unforgettable taste adventure.
For a whimsical twist as you journey through Fantasyland, make a stop at the Cheshire Café. Here, you can enjoy a classic Joffrey’s Cold Brew alongside an iconic Cheshire Cat Tail pastry.
Embrace the wild flavors of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with a visit to Joffrey’s main entrance kiosk. Start your day with a Savannah Banana Latte topped with not one, but two cherries. Pair this exotic latte with a Strawberry Banana jumbo cookie for a taste bud adventure that sets the tone for your day.
As the day heats up, venture to Asia for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up and cool down. Stop by Joffrey’s Royal Anandapur kiosk for a refreshing Frozen Cappuccino Dream. Then, head over to Mr. Kamal’s for a serving of Mr. Kamal’s Seasoned Fries, a favorite Animal Kingdom snack.
EPCOT: Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew and Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar
At EPCOT, take a cool break at Joffrey’s kiosk near the Wonders of Xandar pavilion while awaiting your demonstration of the Cosmic Generator. Pair a classic Disney snack, like the iconic Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar, with a crowd favorite, Joffrey’s Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Round Em’ Up Latte and Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookie
Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers big cookies and big fun. Before embarking on adventures in Toy Story Land, swing by Joffrey’s kiosk near Pixar Place. Here, you’ll find the Round Em’ Up Latte, a drink that’s almost too cute to sip, featuring cookie butter, dulce de leche syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles, and playful animal crackers on top. Pair it with Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookie from the Pixar Place Market for a dynamic duo that will keep you energized throughout the day.
And as you approach Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, let the Force guide you to Kat Saka’s Kettle for a Joffrey’s Cold Brew Black Caf. Complement your coffee with a serving of the Outpost Popcorn Mix, a pairing that even the First Order would approve of.
Remember, this fantastic offer of $1.00 hot or iced Walt Disney World Resort Blend drip coffee is available on National Coffee Day, September 29, 2023, at participating Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Co.owned and operated locations. Please note that the offer excludes the addition of alcohol and cannot be combined with any other offers. Participating locations include Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Contemporary Grounds at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Skyliner Station, Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. So mark your calendars and get ready for a coffee-filled adventure at the most magical place on Earth!
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
New BoxLunch Exclusive Christmas Lights Stitch Light Up Loungefly Backpack!
Our favorite experiment is ready to be part of your ohana this holiday season with this Christmas Lights Stitch Light Up Loungefly Backpack! You can pre-order it now exclusively on the BoxLunch Gifts website for $84.90.
The backpack features Stitch across the front with embroidered details wrapped between light up Christmas lights! It also features a front zippered pocket, two side pockets, a portrait of Scrump on the back and adjustable straps.
This backpack is perfect for adding some holiday style to your look!
These hooks are Mickey shaped and available in three different colors: black, white and gray. You can also get a single hook or get a 2 or 4 pack. Definitely a great way to organize or display your favorite items in your home while adding a touch of Disney magic!
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star.
Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe, the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
“Wish” features the voices of Academy Award-winning actor Ariana DeBose as Asha, Chris Pine as Magnifico, and Alan Tudyk as Asha’s favorite goat, Valentino.
The all-new musical-comedy welcomes audiences to Rosas, a fantastical land located off the Iberian Peninsula. “Our heroine, Asha, lives in Rosas, known as the kingdom of wishes,” said director Chris Buck, who helms the film with Fawn Veerasunthorn. “People come from everywhere to give their wishes to a magical king who promises to grant their deepest desires—someday. Only he can decide which wishes will come true and when.”
Added Veerasunthorn, “We have been inspired by so many iconic films over Disney Animation’s 100 years, especially stories where we explore the power of someone with a wish, combined with the conviction to make that wish come true. Being able to honor that legacy with this incredible story and these amazing characters has been a joy for our entire team.”
During a recent press event in Los Angeles, we had the opportunity to hear from the Filmmakers on how they created this new animated film. The presenters in attendance were: Jennifer Lee-Animation Chief Creative Office, Writer/Executive Producer, Chris Buck-Director, Fawn Veerasunthorn-Director, Peter Del Vecho-Producer and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones-Producer.
Director Chirs Buck commented on the technology used to achieve the look in “Wish.” “Well, it’s the technology that we’ve been doing throughout. In a lot of our shorts, we push some of the technological boundaries. And we’ve been doing things where you do incorporate a bit of the hand-drawn into some of the shorts that we’ve done.”
“You get a little bit of line around the character, but sometimes the characters are still animated in CG. But again, it’s starting to do what we’ve also been loving to do, and that is sort of embracing our legacy, along with moving toward the future. So, I think it’s that hand-drawn look and computer.”
Jennifer Lee added “And just to say, I think one of the goals of a lot of our artists at this studio, and when we develop these films, we develop them with the most beautiful paintings by incredible artists. And then when you would transfer it to CG, there would be a shift.”
“Wish” is set on a fantastical land located off the Iberian Peninsula, Director Fawn Veerasunthorn talked about the location and where the inspiration came from. “for our story, we wanted to create Rosas as a destination, a place people go to. So, in the Mediterranean Sea, that’s kinda of where all the cultures converged, historically. We worked with our culture consultant to make sure that this could happen.”
“But I think that’s why, ’cause it’s set back in medieval times, so that’s sort of, as we say, what it was called back then. There was cultures coming from all around the world at a certain time. And then knowing, you know, Magnifico built this kingdom not knowing if they’d come. And people came because they believed in his vision. And so, it gave us an opportunity to connect people from all around the world,” added Lee.
One of the questions asked was about King Magnifico and where the inspiration for this character came from. Lee started by saying “You know, what’s interesting is we talked at length. First, we started with what do we think about villains that we’d love to do, ’cause how do we be different from the previous films, but also a nod to them. And it really is about getting to watch that journey. So, we knew we wanted to start where you get to watch him make choices where you might meet the best of him, and then hopefully, survive the worst of him.”
She continued by saying “And so that was there. And Julia Michaels was instrumental because this is the thanks I get as an idea, which, hilariously, is a nod to all moms put up with in the house. We talked a lot about, for her, that she hooked on the idea of a narcissist. So, it comes really simple, down to character and the deliciousness and danger of that. “
“Wish” celebrates The Walt Disney Companies 100th Year Anniversary, Buck added that there was so many nods in the movie to add to that legacy. “some people are finding nods that we didn’t even intentionally put in. But they’re like, “Well, there’s that. There’s the wishing well. There’s that.”
He continued by saying “And every different department would put little moments in there or characters or something in the background that will be nods to that legacy. When it come to the character, I think, you know, it’s just who we are. We grew up on Disney characters. And we try to do something original, but we also, you know, we love what we grew up with. We love all those classic movies. So, we try to embrace those types of characters, too.
During the presentation, Lee mentioned that one of the characters “Star” kind of represents Mickey Mouse. She continued by saying “The idea of not just you start with this dream, but what it takes to make it happen. Walt had to fight through incredible obstacles, and that’s very real. And being also just a human with all the same flaws as every human. And then persevering to bring something forward.”
“And Asha’s wish for more for people, to bring joy, to bring happiness, to bring connection. That was very inspiring. And then Star, really the thing with Star to me, how I got my head around Star, ’cause we did many iterations of Star was, Star can’t make this wish happen for you.”
“But Star represents the thing that was critical to Walt, that you need. You need hope. You need possibility. Doesn’t hurt to have some wonder. Don’t forget some joy. All the things that we grab onto that keep us going,” Lee Added.
The filmmakers talked about a lot about how this was such a collaborative effort. And in seeing all of those wishes in the sky, where did they all come from? Are they the wishes of people on the team? Family members? Secret wishes? Where did they come from?
Buck said “Well, I guess it would be, it came from the crew. ‘Cause we just would write down lists of wishes, what would be someone’s wish.”
Lee continued with “Well, and the hilarious thing is, flying, people kept being, well, you gotta do flying. Like, but? No, you gotta do flying. Everyone wishes.”
“Yeah. So, it was fun. It was fun. Those were like brainstorming sessions that you would do. So, yeah, so see some in there. You’ll see even more in the final. But we kept going back to, it wasn’t like they could make, you know, they couldn’t keep coming up with different wishes,” continued Buck.
“Wish” is helmed by Oscar-winning director Chris Buck (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (“Raya and the Last Dragon”), and produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones (“Encanto”). Jennifer Lee (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) executive produces—Lee and Allison Moore (“Night Sky,” “Manhunt”) are writers on the project. With original songs by Grammy®-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice, plus a score by composer Dave Metzger, “
New Star Wars Crocs For Out Of This World Comfort!
Every step you take will be filled with comfort when you wear these Star Wars Crocs straight from a galaxy far, far, away! You can order yours online at the Crocs website for $69.99.
The crocs feature a fuzzy interior that add cushion and comfort while the fuzzy lining outside add a cozy style! They are mainly inspired in Chewbacca and feature different Jibbitz charms of Chewbacca, the Millenium Falcon, Wookie, Copilot and more, plus you can always add more Jibbitz to make them more your style.
These Crocs are also available for kids and toddlers so the whole family can match!
New Beauty And The Beast Collection At Kate Spade Store In Disney Springs!
True beauty is timeless, just like this new Beauty And The Beast Collection available now at the Kate Spade Store in Disney Springs! We spotted these new bags during our recent trip to Disney Springs and fell in love with them immediately and we are sure you will too, take a look:
First we found this beautiful black and white polka dot collection featuring a backpack, crossbody bag and wallet with Belle in her town blue dress holding some red roses and other characters like Lumiere and Mrs. Potts.
There’s also a yellow wristlet and card holder with Mrs. Potts and Chip, as well as, a Beauty and the Beast book wallet, so pretty!
The other part of the collection is gorgeous! It features three different bag styles in black with gold details, first we have a Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Book Crossbody Bag shaped well like a story book, we love it!
Then we have a tote bag with the Beauty and the Beast logo in gold and the enchanted rose artwork, perfect to carry all the essentials for your far away adventures. Finally, a beautiful shoulder bag in black with a gold chain and gold stars featuring Belle in her yellow gown is also available for those fun days in the town with your friends.
This collection is exclusive to Kate Spade Stores for now but we hope to see it available online soon!
Disney characters join together to celebrate the triumph of good over evil as Fantasmic! makes its long-awaited return on Nov. 3, 2022, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The legendary nighttime spectacular invites guests into Mickey’s imagination for a larger-than-life show featuring stunning effects, thrilling stunts, dazzling pyrotechnics and a rousing score based on classic Disney animated films. It’s all painted on a grand canvas of dancing water o
We have the latest details on Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Attention fellow Disney’s Hollywood Studios fans: Disney has just announced exciting news! Extended evening hours are back, offering you more time to immerse yourself in the epic stories of Galaxies Edge, the enchanting experiences in Toy Story Land, and the glitz and glam of 1930’s era Hollywood in the front of the park.
Extended evening hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be available on the following select nights in 2023:
September 30
October 5
October 11
October 19
October 25
The park calendar contains the most up-to-date information, with Extended Evening Hours typically running for 2 hours after park closure. The following attractions will be available during Extended Evening Hours, provided they are not closed for maintenance issues:
Alien Swirling Saucers
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Muppet*Vision 3D
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Toy Story Mania!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
You can also combine extended evening hours with the early theme park entry benefit. This way, you’ll have plenty of extra time to enjoy your favorite attractions, shows, and experiences.
To participate in Extended Evening Hours, you’ll need to be a registered Guest at one of the following Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, or select hotels:Disney Deluxe Resorts:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom LodgeDisney’s Beach Club ResortDisney’s BoardWalk InnDisney’s Contemporary ResortDisney’s Grand Floridian Resort & SpaDisney’s Polynesian Village ResortDisney’s Wilderness LodgeDisney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts:
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary ResortBoulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness LodgeCopper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness LodgeDisney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo HouseDisney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani VillageDisney’s Beach Club VillasDisney’s BoardWalk VillasDisney’s Old Key West ResortDisney’s Polynesian Villas & BungalowsDisney’s Riviera ResortDisney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & SpaThe Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Other Select Hotels:
Walt Disney World Swan HotelWalt Disney World Dolphin HotelWalt Disney World Swan ReserveShades of Green® on Walt Disney World®
Are you a fan of Extended Evening Hours? Have you experienced this benefit during a previous Walt Disney World vacation? Leave us a comment to let us know!
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
New Disney Wish Movie Loaded with Nods to Classic Films
Everything about “Wish,” the upcoming Disney animated film, shows reverence for Walt Disney’s rich history, from the overarching story concept to the cinematic framework that supports it. It’s no surprise, considering that the title is intended to serve as a cornerstone of the studio’s 100-year celebration.
Directors Chris Buck (known for “Frozen”) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (previously head of story on “Raya and the Last Dragon”) share exclusively with EW that the movie will be brimming with countless “homages to the classics” from Disney’s extensive film catalog. While some might refer to them as Easter eggs, the filmmakers assert that most of these references are more subtle and layered than simply hidden surprises.
How many references are we dealing with in Wish? Chris Buck shared, “We are compiling a list, and I couldn’t tell you how long it is now. Each department puts things in and there’s some that we don’t even know are there yet, and we may not know until they tell us.”
Throughout the film, another tribute employed consistently is the utilization of watercolor-style landscapes that adorn the background of various scenes. Buck and Veerasunthorn highlight that these landscapes pay homage to the timeless watercolor art that influenced Disney’s 1937 masterpiece, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
Veerasunthorn explains, “The goal is that this is a moving illustration. Every frame is a painting, when you pause on it, we don’t put a lot of motion blurs in this film or in the background. We employ the watercolor technique of when things are in the distance, you reduce the detail. This is a new technology that our team has developed to be able to control the lines and the details that go into whichever area on the screen. So, when you want to narrow down the focus to someone or some situation, we have all those tools at our hands to really emanate the real-life watercolor.”
Buck says, “We wanted to make a movie that celebrates the joy of Disney and make a movie for the fans. It’s a hundred years. The Disney audience has kept us going and kept this studio going, and so there’s so much of that.”
Eagle-eyed viewers can delight in these historical nods when Wish premiers in theaters on November 22. You can check out the full trailer online. Check back for more updates on Wish and a full review of the film here at Chip & Company.
The WGA has reached a preliminary agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for a fresh three-year Minimum Basic Agreement. On September 26th, the Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board, and WGAE Council unanimously recommended this agreement. It will now be presented to the members of both guilds for ratification. Voting for eligible members will be open from October 2nd to October 9th, and they will receive voting materials when the voting period begins.
Additionally, the WGAW Board and WGAE Council have also voted to terminate the restraining order and conclude the strike as of 12:01 am PT/3:01 am ET on Wednesday, September 27th. This permits writers to resume work while the ratification process is ongoing, without affecting the membership’s ultimate decision on contract approval.
The WGA has proposed a requirement for a minimum of six writers for TV series that receive the green light for a minimum of six episodes per season. The agreement stipulates that at least three writer-producers, who are more experienced members, must be hired for all series, with the showrunner counting towards this number if applicable.
The number of less experienced writer members or staff writers to be hired will increase on a graduated scale based on the number of episodes ordered. For example, a six-episode series necessitates at least three writer-level hires, while series spanning 7-12 episodes per season must hire five writers, and those with 13 episodes or more must employ six writers.
This new contract component includes an exception for solo-writer shows, such as “The White Lotus” or “Big Little Lies,” where a single writer is responsible for scripting all episodes. In these instances, the initial agreement between the writer and the studio, network, or streaming platform must specify the writer’s sole responsibility from the outset. In summary, the minimum staffing requirements apply “unless a single writer is engaged to write all episodes,” as outlined by the guild in its summary of key deal points.
Additionally, there are new regulations concerning the duration of employment for writers, accompanied by another fresh provision aimed at guaranteeing that writers with less experience have the opportunity to observe the production and post-production phases.
According to the guild, “2 writer-producers must be engaged for the shorter of 20 weeks during production or for the duration of production alongside the showrunner.” This provision addresses the issue of writers and writer-producers not receiving adequate exposure and apprenticeship time required for their growth into full-fledged showrunners.
The updated arrangement provides writers with a bonus for successful original TV series and movies that achieve widespread popularity on subscription-based platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Max, Hulu, and other streaming services.
This bonus applies to high-budget productions specifically created for streaming platforms. While the majority of original series on major streaming platforms meet the high-budget criteria, the focus on content designed exclusively for streaming implies that older series originally produced for non-streaming platforms, such as the USA Network drama “Suits,” which has recently gained popularity among Netflix viewers, would not be eligible for this bonus.
The WGA fought hard against the advent of AI in the use of writing. To summarize:
AI is incapable of composing or modifying literary content, and AI-generated content will not be recognized as source material according to the MBA. This means that AI-generated content cannot be utilized to undermine a writer’s credit or separate rights.
A writer may opt to employ AI during writing services with the consent of the company, as long as the writer adheres to applicable company guidelines. However, the company cannot mandate the use of AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) for writing services.
In cases where materials given to the writer have been produced by AI or incorporate AI-generated content, the company must inform the writer of this fact.
The WGA retains the authority to assert that the utilization of writers’ material for training AI is prohibited by the MBA or other legal provisions.
You can see the exact terms of the deal reached with the studios here. Are you happy that we are moving towards the resumption of films and television shows? Share your thoughts on the strike in a comment and check back for more updates on negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild.
