Title: SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP Take a Day’s Break After Weekend of Intense Negotiations
Subtitle: Contract Talks Aim to End 108-Day Strike
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After a weekend filled with intense negotiations, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have decided to take a break for a day. The two parties are working towards closing a new three-year contract and ending the 108-day strike.
In a message sent to SAG-AFTRA members, union leader Fran Drescher announced that discussions have taken place throughout the weekend, covering all open proposals, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). Both parties will be working separately on Monday and will schedule further talks at the end of the day. Drescher encouraged members to join picket lines in the morning and make their voices heard.
Currently, SAG-AFTRA has scheduled a full week of pickets in Los Angeles and New York City at major studios. The union, representing 160,000 members, has been fighting for fair compensation for actors in streaming shows and protection of performers’ likeness rights in relation to studios’ use of AI.
The negotiations have been ongoing, and both sides expressed optimism about reaching a deal within days. However, the situation remains fluid, and further discussions will be necessary to find common ground.
The talks, which resumed on October 24 after a 12-day suspension, have seen progress in bridging the gap between the union and the studios. The studios have offered increased minimum rates and bonuses based on streaming content’s success, aligning with the Writers Guild of America deal. SAG-AFTRA’s counterproposal included a 9% rise, down from their initial ask of 11%. Streaming revenue monies for actors remain a significant point of contention.
The studios’ CEO leadership, including Disney’s Bob Iger, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav, and NBCUniversal’s Donna Langley, were not present in the latest virtual talks. However, the studios have shown a shift in attitude, going from feeling underwhelmed with the union’s proposals on Friday to being more optimistic about finding common ground.
The strike has had a significant impact on the entertainment industry, with major projects, including “Mission Impossible 8,” Disney’s “Snow White,” and Pixar’s “Elio,” moving off the 2024 calendar. The studios are eager to restart global feature and TV production, especially as exhibition suffered losses and accumulated debt during the pandemic. The unpredictable release calendar and the fear of a recession have prompted studios to seek a resolution and prevent further economic loss.
During the negotiations, prominent performers such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jon Hamm, Sarah Paulson, Chelsea Handler, and Christian Slater pledged their commitment to keep picketing until a fair deal is reached. However, an earlier offer from industry heavyweights, including George Clooney and Emma Stone, to contribute $150 million over three years to remove a cap on union dues was deemed legally incompatible with the union’s contract.
As SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP take a day’s break, the future of contract negotiations and the strike’s impact on the industry remain uncertain. Both sides will need to find a resolution that ensures fair compensation for actors in streaming and protects their rights in the digital age.