Title: Hollywood Studios and Union Hold Last-Minute Talks to Prevent Imminent Strike
Subtitle: A Double Strike Looms as SAG-AFTRA Demands Higher Compensation and Safeguards for Actors
Date: [Current Date]
In a race against time, Hollywood’s major film and television studios, along with mediators, engaged in urgent negotiations on Wednesday to avert what could potentially be a second industry strike that would bring the entertainment industry to a standstill.
SAG-AFTRA, the largest union in Hollywood, also known as the Screen Actors Guild, has authorized a strike if the ongoing negotiations fail to yield a satisfactory deal by midnight in Los Angeles (0700 Thursday GMT/UTC). The union’s demand for higher compensation from streaming services and increased pay to offset inflation is at the forefront of the negotiations.
The potential strike has garnered the support of numerous A-list stars, including Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep, who have pledged their backing for the industrial action. However, if the strike proceeds, these stars would be unable to promote new releases or attend industry events like Comic-Con, scheduled to take place next week.
With approximately 160,000 actors, television and radio presenters, and other media professionals represented by the union, the impact of a strike would be far-reaching. The writers have already been participating in protests for two months, and now the actors’ union has expressed solidarity with the action.
The primary demands put forth by SAG-AFTRA revolve around compensation from streaming services, which currently do not disclose viewership figures and pay actors a flat rate, regardless of audience size. The union is also seeking safeguards to protect actors from unauthorized use of their digital images through the implementation of measures concerning artificial intelligence (AI).
Negotiations have been tense, with studio representatives accused of leaking information to the media by SAG-AFTRA. As a result, on Tuesday, union negotiators consented to bringing in a federal mediator. The union stated that there would be no extension to the Wednesday night deadline for a deal, as they lack confidence in the studio’s intentions to reach an agreement. Time is of the essence, as negotiations reach a critical point.
The potential strike by SAG-AFTRA follows a similar move by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in early May, causing significant disruptions in the production of the autumn TV season and big-budget movies. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) offered “generous” pay raises but was unable to meet all of the writer’s demands. If SAG-AFTRA proceeds with a walkout, it would culminate in a “double strike,” a rare occurrence last witnessed in Hollywood back in 1960, effectively halting most film and television production in the United States.
As the clock ticks and tensions run high, the future of Hollywood hangs in the balance. The fate of countless productions and the livelihoods of thousands within the industry hinge on the outcome of these last-minute negotiations.
Sources:
– Reuters
– AFP