SAG-AFTRA Strike Continues Amid Ongoing Concerns Over AI in Hollywood

A day after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) authorised a tentative cope with the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers (AMPTP) and referred to as an finish to its 146-day strike, the members of SAG-AFTRA proceed to stroll the picket traces waiting for their very own renewed negotiations. Whereas just one issue within the ongoing talks, synthetic intelligence stays a central concern for the placing actors.

Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA broke down in July over a number of points, together with defending background actors—for whom the studios provided someday of pay for letting the studios create digital avatars of them that could possibly be utilized in future tasks—and securing residual pay from streaming platforms.

Regardless that the WGA as a physique ended its strike on Wednesday and left the picket traces as a corporation, particular person writers stay on the picket traces to help SAG-AFTRA members.

“I have been out right here for the whole time that the actors have been out right here,” SAG-AFTRA member Web page Kennedy advised Decrypt outdoors Netflix’s Sundown Boulevard workplaces. “I wished to see how the vibe would change after the writers made their deal, and I see that they’re nonetheless out right here with us in solidarity.”

Kennedy, who not too long ago starred within the Meg2: The Trench and the Starfield recreation from Bethesda Recreation Studios, additionally mentioned he was curious if the writers would proceed to stroll with them after their strike had been referred to as off, and mentioned that seeing the WGA members nonetheless strolling with SAG-AFTRA was constructive. She mentioned that the WGA’s cope with the AMPTP was an excellent signal that SAG-AFTRA would quickly have a deal as nicely.

Kennedy and others additionally expressed their continued apprehension about utilizing synthetic intelligence in movie and tv.

“They’re mainly attempting to weed us out as human beings and making us defunct,” Kennedy mentioned, including that AI lacks the nuanced understanding and flexibility people achieve by life’s ups and downs.

The WGA’s tentative settlement with the AMPTP stipulates that AI-generated written materials couldn’t be thought of literary or supply materials, and writers can select to make use of AI with the corporate’s consent, however they can’t be compelled to make use of AI software program. Moreover, studios should disclose if any materials given to writers has been generated by AI or incorporates AI-generated materials.

Whereas members of the WGA celebrated their win after information of the tentative settlement between the studios and WGA broke, Deadline reported that Netflix, Max (previously HBO MAX), Paramount+, Disney, and Peacock had joined with different corporations to kind a brand new commerce group referred to as The Streaming Innovation Alliance that might advocate for “federal and state insurance policies that impression their providers.”

“Individuals have been so consumed by that settlement that they did not see [the announcement],” expertise supervisor and associate at Subsequent Degree Leisure Kimberly Strauss mentioned. “So yesterday, we have been attempting to get it over to the negotiating committee for the WGA in order that they may see it earlier than they ship the votes out to the members as a result of the members needs to be conscious that that is taking place.”

With the SAG-AFTRA strike in its third month, members have needed to discover methods to help themselves outdoors their common performing gigs. SAG-AFTRA member Mitch Ward mentioned he needed to depend on his info know-how (IT) background to assist hold him afloat. He mentioned his agent and supervisor are at a standstill whereas the strike continues.

“I have been on this enterprise as an actor with the Display screen Actors Guild since 1988, and that is my second strike,” Ward mentioned. “So we go up and down, however this time, we’ve received to get a stable contract, one that’s going to guard us for some time. I do not need to do one other strike—I need to retire.”

Whereas a lot focus has been placed on using generative AI in productions, residuals for streaming motion pictures and tv reveals are one other sticking level the 2 teams haven’t agreed on.

“To place it as merely as doable, we’re not getting paid as a lot for streaming residuals as we have been for broadcast reveals on ABC, NBC, CBS,” SAG-AFTRA member Kate Comer advised Decrypt. “However if you happen to see a one-hour drama that is getting tons of awards and acclaim on Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, we get a yearly fee to that.”

Comer—who appeared within the latest Hulu mini-series The Dropout and FX’s It is All the time Sunny in Philadelphia—highlighted the present variations between residuals for streaming and broadcast programming.

“The very best you may get proper now’s about $1,800 a 12 months for limitless streaming on an enormous platform, whereas if the reveals have been on broadcast, you’d proceed to receives a commission each time it aired eternally.”

“I am obsessed with that as a result of as my profession has grown, I’ve gotten greater roles, however I have never gotten paid like my predecessors,” Comer mentioned. “In order that’s a giant deal for me.” When requested about utilizing AI to create digital avatars of background actors, Comer was adamant that it shouldn’t be allowed with out correct compensation.

“They can not use it for no matter they need eternally,” she mentioned. “That may’t be allowed, there must be rules, we have to have energy over our personal photos.”

Because the day’s picketing got here to an in depth, SAG-AFTRA members and their WGA supporters joined in a rallying chant of “someday longer, someday stronger.”