Los Angeles - Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) voted overwhelmingly Tuesday evening to end their over three-month-long strike, meaning that most were back at work writing television show and movie scripts on Wednesday. The WGA said that 92.5% of votes cast were in favor of ending the strike; members will next vote on Feb. 25 to ratify the tentative three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). "The strike is over. Our membership has voted, and writers can go back to work," said Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West.

"This was not a strike we wanted, but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet.

Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the Internet and platforms for new media are developed."

"This is a day of relief and optimism for everyone in the entertainment industry," reads a statement credited to the heads of the major studios and networks, including CBS' Leslie Moonves, NBC Universal's Jeff Zucker, News Corp.'s Peter Chernin and Walt Disney Co.'s Robert Iger.

"The strike has been extraordinarily difficult for all of us, but the hardest hit of all have been the many thousands of businesses, workers and families that are economically dependent on our industry.

We hope now to focus our collective efforts on what this industry does best -- writers, directors, actors, production crews, and entertainment companies working together to deliver great content to our worldwide audiences."

One major beneficiary of the deal is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, whose annual Academy Awards are scheduled to take place in 11 days.

Variety reports the producers of the Oscars will hold a press conference Thursday morning to discuss plans for the show.

Photo by NoHoDamon

Related Links:

Poll: Was The WGA Strike Worth It?

http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2775

http://www.amptp.org

http://tinyurl.com/3yyaa2 (Los Angeles Times)

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=hottopic&id=2821