WGA Strike: Michael Schur On “Manufactured” Narratives, Inter-Guild Solidarity, Solo Showrunners’ Willingness To Expand Their Rooms & Why A Concession On AI Alone “Would Not” End The Walkout

deadline.com:

As the Writers Guild strike stretches into its fourth week, Michael Schur is feeling resolute. Well known for co-creating such hit series as Parks and Recreation and The Good Place, Schur is a member of the WGA Negotiating Committee headed up by Chief Negotiator Ellen Stutzman and Co-Chairs David A.

Goodman and Chris Keyser, which at the beginning of May led the writers’ walkout on film and TV production, as negotiations with the AMPTP over everything from guild minimums and residuals to AI broke down.

Schur came up under Greg Daniels on The Office after launching his career at SNL, having been given the opportunity to experience firsthand all the nuts and bolts that go into producing quality television, something that can’t be said for many aiming to rise through the ranks today.

Deadline caught up with the two-time Emmy winner outside Amazon Studios on Friday, where maybe 80 to 100 writers picketed, to discuss the “diabolical cost-cutting thirst” of the companies comprising today’s AMPTP, as well as inter-guild solidarity, the Screen Actors Guild’s “heartening” recent call for a strike authorization vote, “manufactured” narratives surrounding the strike, the willingness of showrunners who write alone to welcome others into their writers rooms and why a concession on AI alone will not be enough to end the strike. DEADLINE: Where do you see things standing at the moment, as far as negotiations and the temperature amongst WGA members? SCHUR: There’s been no discussions with the companies since the day we called the strike.