The Writers Guild helped bring Kimmel back. Here’s what its new president plans next

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The day Michele Mulroney became president of the Writers Guild of America West also marked a win for writers. After several days of protesting ABC’s suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, the network decided to bring the late-night show back on the air.

According to Mulroney, in a recent interview, words and stories are our most valuable assets, and the ability to express ourselves freely is crucial. He stated that members feel very strongly about this, and the organization will actively advocate, lobby, and work in every possible way to safeguard this essential right.

As a huge movie buff, I was really interested to hear that Mulroney, who used to be a vice president at the WGA West and wrote for films like the 2017 “Power Rangers” and the 2011 “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows“, is stepping into a new role. It’s a tough time for the industry right now, with so much going on, so it’s good to see experienced people like her taking on new challenges. I’m curious to see what she’ll bring to the table.

This involves significant merging of companies within the entertainment industry, as studios try to reduce expenses and shift TV and movie production to other countries due to generous financial benefits. It’s been a difficult time for many writers, who have found it hard to get jobs following a 148-day strike last year. While writers *did* achieve important new safeguards regarding AI in their contracts after the strike, they are still dealing with AI systems using their work without payment.

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As a huge movie lover, I’m really disturbed to hear that a lot of film and TV writers are upset. Apparently, tech companies are using their scripts to train AI models – and they didn’t ask permission! It feels like a real breach of trust. They’re now urging the studios to fight back with legal action, which I think is absolutely the right thing to do. It’s important to protect the work of these creative professionals.

With contract talks approaching next year, Mulroney stated she intends to expand on previous progress in areas like AI. Her goal is to persuade the studios to contribute more to the WGA’s health insurance plans, given the increasing cost of healthcare.

“The companies will need to provide some assistance,” Mulroney explained. “Their significant reduction in both production and jobs caused a major downturn in the industry, which has put a strain on our financial resources. We expect them to work with us to resolve this situation.”

When questioned about the possibility of another strike by WGA members, Mulroney stated, “it’s much too soon to predict that.”

“The industry is challenging for everyone working in it, and many of our members are feeling that strain. However, our members have consistently demonstrated that they’re prepared to fight for the contract they’ve earned when the time comes,” Mulroney stated. It’s something they’ve proven repeatedly.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers didn’t offer a comment, but previously stated its members are eager to collaborate with her “to address key issues for WGA writers and to strengthen our industry with fair, balanced solutions.”

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According to a source at the studio who wasn’t allowed to speak publicly, the WGA health plan is dealing with “complex financial challenges that need a reasonable solution to match current standards and guarantee it will remain stable for the future.”

To reduce expenses, film and television studios are increasingly filming in the U.K. and other nations that offer substantial financial benefits. This shift is leading to fewer job openings for entertainment professionals in Southern California, and as a result, some workers have been forced to relocate to find employment.

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Hollywood writers were already struggling. Now they fear censorship

Many see Kimmel’s recovery as a victory for free expression and proof that boycotts can be effective against large companies. But for screenwriters in Hollywood, the debate about comedic content might be far from over.

Unions, like the WGA, advocated for increased yearly funding for California’s film and TV tax credit program, and their efforts paid off. The funding was raised from $330 million to $750 million.

“This was a genuinely positive development during a difficult period for our industry,” Mulroney stated in an interview last week. “We now need the federal government to take action as well, so we’ll keep collaborating with our partners to try and maintain production within the U.S., and particularly in Hollywood and Southern California.”

Mulroney chose not to discuss President Trump’s recent warning that he might place a 100% tax on movies made outside of the United States.

A major concern for writers recently has been the rise of artificial intelligence. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has publicly stated its desire for studios to pursue legal action against AI companies. Writers claim these companies are using their scripts to train AI models without proper authorization. Earlier in the year, several studios-including Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery-initiated lawsuits against AI companies due to copyright violations.

“We were glad to see some of the studios come off the sidelines and file lawsuits to protect their copyright from these AI companies that are stealing our members’ work to build their models,” she said. “I think we will probably be dealing with AI and wrangling that for the rest of our lives, right?”

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As a movie lover, I’ve been noticing something interesting lately. It’s getting harder and harder for people to find steady work in Hollywood. So, a lot of talented crew members and actors I know are now finding opportunities with influencers – those content creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. It’s a whole new kind of business – what they call the ‘creator economy’ – and it’s giving people a place to use their skills.

Mulroney, age 58, won the election without opposition, receiving 2,241 votes – representing 87% of all votes cast, as reported by the union. Travis Donnelly, a writer and co-executive producer for the CBS series “Tracker”, was elected vice president, and Peter Murrieta, an executive producer for the TV comedy “Primo”, became secretary-treasurer.

Mulroney was raised in the U.K. by parents who worked in a factory and as a janitor. Before becoming president, she dedicated many years to the union, serving on its board of directors for four terms and holding officer positions for six years.

Although Mulroney initially worked in theater and as a theater director, she’d always enjoyed writing as a hobby. While in her 20s, she took a job in development for a British TV and film studio. There, she spent a lot of time reading scripts, which inspired her to think, “Perhaps I could write a script myself.”

She started her writing career with PBS’s “Wishbone,” a children’s show featuring a Jack Russell terrier who pretends to be characters from famous books. For the past 25 years, she’s worked as a screenwriter and currently lives in West Hollywood with her husband and fellow writer, Kieran.

Mulroney succeeds Meredith Stiehm, who led the union during the 2023 strike.

Mulroney stated that Kimmel’s return to the airwaves was a farewell gesture to Stiehm, and clarified that the union continues to monitor the situation.

I heard Mulroney say they’re still keeping a close watch on things. He seemed pretty sure this won’t be the last time we’re talking about censorship and free speech – it’s going to remain a topic for the foreseeable future, it seems. He expressed a strong feeling that we’ll be dealing with this again.

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2025-10-04 13:32