Hollywood Actors Union Approves Deal with Studios, Ending Strike
Hollywood Actors Union Approves Deal with Studios, Ending Strike
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of
Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) board of directors has approved a new
three-year contract with major studios, ending a months-long strike that
had halted the production of hundreds of films and television shows.
The deal includes increases in minimum salaries, a new "streaming participation" payment model, and protections for actors against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their work.
AI was a key sticking point in the
negotiations, but the final agreement stipulates that actors will now be
compensated for the use of their digital likenesses in AI-generated
content and that companies will need to negotiate new permission to use a
likeness in a new project.
The contract also includes the creation of a
new fund to pay performers for future viewings of their work on streaming
services, a 7 percent general wage increase, and an 11 percent
increase for background actors.
Additionally, the deal specifies that
production sets must have intimacy coordinators for any scenes involving
nudity, and proper hair and makeup studios for performers who require
them.
Details:
The new contract is valued at more than $1 billion and will take
effect immediately. It is a major victory for SAG-AFTRA, which had been fighting
for better pay and working conditions for its members, particularly in the
streaming era.
The union's president, Fran Drescher, called the deal a
"game-changer" for actors.
"This agreement is a demonstration of the force of
fortitude and the eagerness of our individuals to support what they
merit," Drescher said in a proclamation. "We are glad to have
accomplished these memorable increases, which will help entertainers into the
indefinite future."
The agreement is also a sign of the growing importance of
streaming services in the entertainment industry. The new "streaming
participation" payment model will give actors a share of the revenue
generated by their work on streaming platforms.
The deal is also notable for its protections against the use of AI. As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, it is increasingly being used to create digital likenesses of actors, which can be used in films and television shows without the actor's knowledge or consent.
Under the new contract, actors will now be compensated for the
use of their digital likenesses, and companies will need to negotiate new
permission to use a likeness in a new project.
Overall, the new contract is a major victory for SAG-AFTRA and
its members. It represents significant progress in the areas of pay, working
conditions, and intellectual property rights.

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