It’s been nearly 3 and a half months since the SAG-AFTRA strike began, and hopeful negotiations are on the way.
The union resumed negotiations with the AMPTP on Tuesday for the first time in almost two weeks. The studios delivered a new offer on streaming residuals. More information below.
What is the SAG-AFTRA Strike?
The Screen Actors Guild strike started on July 14, 2023 in solidarity with the WGA strike and is the longest in SAG-AFTRA history.
The main contributing factors behind the strike are:
- Streaming residuals: The actors want a fair share of the revenue generated by streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon, which have become more popular and profitable in recent years.
- Self-tape auditions: The actors want more regulation and compensation for self-tape auditions, which are often required by studios but can be costly and time-consuming for actors.
- Artificial intelligence: The actors want to prevent the use of AI to scan their faces and generate digital performances without their consent or adequate compensation.
See Also: Warner Bros. Discovery to Lose Between $300M-500M In 2023 Due to Ongoing WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strikes
The strike has affected the production of films and TV shows, as well as the upcoming awards season. Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP resumed on October 24, with hopes of reaching a resolution soon.
Discussions Resume
The guild announced on Tuesday night: “Today, the CEOs came back to the table. We are scheduled to continue talks with them tomorrow. We will continue to provide updates to you directly. Remember – don’t believe anything you read in the press unless it comes directly from us.”
This happened nearly two weeks after negotiations broke down on October 11, after which George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Kerry Washington, Tyler Perry, Bradley Cooper, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Laura Dern, Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Reynolds, and Ariana DeBose tried to resolve the strike with a $150M deal to benefit lower-paid actors, which was said to not impact the strike whatsoever.
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said in response to the deal:
“I also want to thank George Clooney for organizing the suggestion that … [we] take the caps off of the dues so that the highest-paid members can contribute more. Although that’s extremely generous and we accept that graciously.”
Fran Descher
“We are a federally regulated labor union, and the only contributions that can go into our pension and health funds must be from the employer. So what we are fighting for in terms of benefits has to remain in this contract.”
The SAG-AFTRA announced Tuesday night that talks with the AMPTP, in regard to the ongoing strike, will continue Wednesday.
