The world of entertainment industry negotiations can be filled with acronyms and specialized terms that can seem confusing to those unfamiliar with the screenwriting profession. As the Writers Guild of America (WGA) enters into negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), it is important to understand the terminology used to fully grasp the discussions. This glossary is intended to provide clarity for an international audience that may not be familiar with these terms.

Acronyms:

- WGA: Writers Guild of America. Represents the interests of screenwriters in the United States. - AMPTP: Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Represents major production studios and television networks in negotiations with the WGA. - MBA: Minimum Basic Agreement. Refers to the collective bargaining agreement between the WGA and the AMPTP that defines the terms and conditions of employment for screenwriters. - HBSVOD: High-Budget Subscription Video on Demand. Refers to programs or series produced specifically for subscription streaming platforms with a substantial budget. - SVOD: Subscription Video on Demand. Refers to streaming services that require a subscription to access their content, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. - AI: Artificial Intelligence. Refers to the use of advanced computer systems and algorithms to simulate human intelligence and perform tasks traditionally done by humans, such as writing or generating content.

Specialized Terms:

- Pre-greenlight (pre-validation): Refers to the development phase prior to final approval or funding of a project. - Post-greenlight (post-validation): Indicates the production phase after the project has been approved and has entered development or active production. - Residuals (royalties): Payments made to writers for the reuse or rebroadcast of their work, such as when a television episode or film is rebroadcast. - Script fees: Compensation paid to writers for their work on individual scripts or episodes. - Weeklies: Refers to the weekly rate of pay for writers, often based on a specific job or experience level. - Aggregate (cumulative total): In the context of royalties, this refers to the cumulative revenue generated by a film or television program. - Span (duration): Refers to the length of time a writer is paid for work on a project, usually based on the number of weeks or episodes. Staff: A group of writers employed by a television series to work together on individual episodes. They are usually supervised by a showrunner. Writer-Producer: A term used to describe a writer who also serves as a producer on a television series, which involves additional responsibilities in creative management and production. Limited series: A television series designed to have only one season or a limited number of episodes, often with a complete storyline that takes place over that specific time frame. Backup script: Refers to an additional script developed for a television series in case the main script does not work or is not approved. P&H (Pension & Health): Refers to benefits such as pension and health insurance offered to writers as members of the WGA. Development room: A group of writers gathered to develop ideas and concepts for new television projects before they are approved or produced. Foreign subs: In the context of royalties, the number of foreign subscribers to a streaming service, which is used to calculate royalties due to writers for the international distribution of their work. Viewership-based residuals: A royalty system that takes into account the audience figures for a television program or film to determine additional payments due to writers based on the number of viewers. Ad-supported free streaming services: Refers to streaming platforms that offer free content to users, but are funded by advertising that is played during video playback. By understanding these key terms and acronyms, you will be better equipped to follow the negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP and understand the issues facing screenwriters in the entertainment industry. This knowledge will give you a clearer picture of the ongoing discussions and the potential impact on working conditions and compensation for screenwriters.