- Hollywood Actors Prepare for Strike: Failed negotiations with major studios
- Residual Pay and AI Use at the Heart of Dispute
- Potential “Double Strike” with Writers: Screenwriters already on strike, actors may join picket lines
Tens of thousands of Hollywood actors are set to strike after hours of unsuccessful union-streaming titan discussions.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and major studios have consented to an extension of negotiations.
However, the union has been unable to reach an agreement regarding residual pay and the use of artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, it is anticipated that a decision will be made to join screenwriters on picket lines.
Writers have been striking outside Disney, Netflix, and Paramount studios for months over compensation and working conditions.
The SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, which represents 160,000 actors and performers, voted unanimously to recommend strike action to the union’s board.
It wanted a better streaming profit split and assurances that AI won’t replace actors.
After Wednesday’s midnight deadline passed, the committee stated, “We are not confident that the employers have any intention of bargaining for an agreement.”
“Time is running out,” the message warned.
Fran Drescher, guild president, said streaming firms “to meaningfully engage on some topics and completely stonewalled us” on others.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios, stated that it was “disappointed” by the breakdown of negotiations.
“This is the Union’s choice, not ours,” the AMPTP stated in a statement.
In doing so, it rejected our offer of historic pay and residual increases, significantly higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a ground-breaking AI proposal that safeguards actors’ digital likenesses, and more.
A “double strike” of actors and writers would halt practically all US film and television operations since 1960.
The strike could also spread to the United Kingdom and other countries where acting union members are active on film sets.
It would also prevent A-list celebrities from promoting the year’s most popular releases.
Variety reports that Thursday’s London premiere of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has been moved up by one hour so that actors like Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon can attend without violating a union deadline for a walkout vote.
A strike could prevent them from attending the film’s Monday US premiere in New York, as well as other significant film and television events, such as next week’s Comic-Con in San Diego.
However, leading actors have already signaled their intent to strike. Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence wrote to the union in June to reject a poor deal.
Wednesday, the unions representing directors and technicians in Hollywood stated “unwavering support and solidarity” for the actors.
According to reports, the AMPTP has requested federal mediators to help resolve the impasse.
