George Clooney, a prominent actor and member of SAG-AFTRA, met with union leaders earlier this week to discuss the breakdown of contract negotiations. The meeting, which took place over Zoom, included union national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and president Fran Drescher. Other notable union members, such as Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone, Ben Affleck, and Tyler Perry, were also present.
The discussions came after studios decided to suspend negotiations on October 11. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers stated that the gap between their organization and SAG-AFTRA was too significant, and conversations were no longer productive. One of the major concerns from the studios was the union’s latest revenue-share proposal, which sought to create a new pool of money for performers who work on streaming services. The studios argued that this proposal would be an “untenable economic burden,” while the union disputed the figure provided by the studios.
Crabtree-Ireland expressed surprise at the studios’ decision to walk away from the negotiation table. He believed that SAG-AFTRA’s revised proposal was a significant concession. However, the two sides remain apart on other key issues, including regulations on AI use and minimum wage increases. SAG-AFTRA opposes the studios’ proposal on AI, as it allows for long-term use without obtaining further consent. Additionally, SAG-AFTRA continues to push for higher wage bumps than those offered to the Writers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America.
The ongoing actors’ strike, which is approaching its 100th day, has caused a halt in the majority of domestic union production. This strike mirrors the recent Writers Guild of America strike, during which prominent showrunners questioned guild leaders about the negotiation impasse. Eventually, negotiations resumed with the involvement of studio heads, leading to a resolution.
Despite the suspension of talks, studio executive Donna Langley expressed a commitment to resolving the issue and getting the industry back on track. She stated that the studios would continue to spend time with actors until an agreement could be reached.
The meeting between George Clooney and SAG-AFTRA leaders indicates a collective effort to understand the breakdown of contract negotiations and find a way forward. As the strike continues, the industry eagerly awaits a resolution that will allow productions to resume and bring stability to the entertainment sector.