2023-11-09 13:15:05
Actresses in Hollywood went on strike for almost four months. They demanded more money and regulation of the use of AI in the industry. Now there is a “provisional agreement”.
The Angels.
Actors and film studios in Hollywood reached a “provisional agreement” and suspended the strike, which has been going on for almost four months, on Thursday. Representatives of the actors and the film studios approved the agreement “in a unanimous vote,” said the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA. The agreement still needs to be ratified by union members before it can take effect.
The approximately 160,000 actors and actresses in the USA had been on strike since July 14th. SAG-AFTRA announced that the new contract is worth more than a billion dollars (around 935 million euros). It includes, among other things, an above-average minimum salary as well as improvements to pension and health insurance.
In addition, clear regulations have been laid down for the first time to protect artists – for example through compensation payments – from the threat posed by the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Members should also receive a bonus with regard to streaming services.
The screenwriters had also been on strike since the beginning of May, but reached an agreement with the studios in early October. It was the first time in more than 60 years that writers and actors had struck at the same time. According to Todd Holmes, a professor of entertainment media management at Cal State Northridge University, the two strikes caused an estimated economic loss of about $7 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times.
If union members approve the agreement, the entire contract is expected to be made public on Friday. As actors return to work, one of the longest and largest work stoppages in Hollywood history comes to an end.
Numerous blockbusters postponed
The strike shut down production across the industry for nearly four months and raised existential questions about the future of the entertainment industry. Numerous television and film productions were interrupted or canceled.
Although many reality shows and some independent projects were able to continue production, major studios were forced to postpone numerous blockbusters, including “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Dune: Part Two” and “Gladiator 2” as well as series hits such as “Euphoria” and “Stranger Things”.
The unions particularly demanded better compensation when films or series are streamed on platforms such as Netflix, Apple and Amazon. Another central topic was the use of AI. Writers were worried that studios would replace them with technology. Actors feared that their likeness would be digitized and simulated without compensation or consent.
Authors accepted new collective agreement
At the beginning of October, writers in Hollywood put an end to their nearly five-month-long strike. With an overwhelming majority of 99 percent, the screenwriters accepted the new collective agreement with the major film studios. This also contains wage increases and regulations for the use of AI as well as higher subsidies for old age and health care. (dpa)
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