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☆ Hollywood’s videogame performers to go on strike over AI, pay concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Video game voice actors and motion-capture performers have called a strike over failed labor contract negotiations focused around AI-related protections for workers, bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood. The SAG-AFTRA has called a strike of the Interactive Media Agreement that covers videogame performers, effective July 26, the union said on Thursday. The Interactive Media Agreement expired in November 2022 and was being extended on a monthly basis during the talks. Apart from AI protections, the SAG-AFTRA’s most pressing issues in the contract negotiations for videogame performers are higher pay, medical treatment and breaks for motion capture performers. The offer presented to the SAG-AFTRA features AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers working under the IMA, Cooling said.

Persons: AFTRA, ”, Audrey Cooling, Cooling Organizations: Reuters, SAG, Interactive, Activision Productions, Electronic Arts, Epic, Disney, Warner Bros, WB, Hollywood, IMA Locations: Hollywood

The SAG-AFTRA actors’ union on Thursday called a strike against video game companies that use actors’ images or voices in games, echoing its broader strike against television and movie studios last year. The strike will start at 12:01 a.m. Pacific time on Friday, after more than a year and a half of negotiations. Until the latest strike is resolved, members of the 160,000-person union will no longer “act” in video games produced by Activision Blizzard, WB Games, Electronic Arts and seven other companies covered by an interactive-media agreement. SAG-AFTRA’s demands are similar to those it sought from television and movie studios last year: higher wages and job protections from the threat of artificial intelligence. “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I.

Persons: “ We’re, ” Fran Drescher, ” Organizations: SAG, Activision Blizzard, WB, Electronic Arts

☆ Hollywood’s actors are back to work—here’s what they actually got in SAG-AFTRA’s new contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

On Nov. 8, after 118 days of striking, Hollywood actors reached a tentative agreement with studios and streamers regarding the working conditions of their industry. Wage increases, new streaming bonuses and limits on self-tapesSAG's new contract covers numerous aspects of actors' jobs. Actors will get a hike in basic wage minimums for a variety of projects across both film and television. For anyone with a speaking role, minimums will increase by 7% effective Nov. 9, another 4% effective July 2024 and another 3.5% effective July 2025. Background actors will get an increase of 11% on Nov. 9 and the same increases as others going forward.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, AFTRA, minimums, Jonathan Handel, Tallie Medel, who's, they've, Handel Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Sony, CNBC Locations: Ireland, Los Angeles , California

NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood’s months of labor unrest are coming to an end, but the post-strike landscape that awaits actors and writers may be far from happy-ever-after. That helter-skelter transition threw much of the economics of entertainment out of whack. “Going through that with a streaming service that’s losing billions of dollars is really, really difficult to go on offense.”Cancellations have grown more commonplace as streamers get more selective. Due in part to the strikes, series production will dip for the first time in years in 2023 after reaching an all-time high last year, when 599 original series were made. “And so I think really we will see over the coming days, weeks and months what the industry’s real intentions are.

Persons: —, HBO Max, Max ”, ”, Jonathan Taplin, Crypto, Taplin, Puck’s Matt Belloni, Walt, Bob Iger, ” Iger, I’ve, it’s, Peacock, David Zaslav, Max, ” Zaslav, “, Martin Scorsese’s, Ridley Scott’s “ Napoleon, ” Duncan Crabtree, Krysta Fauria Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, HBO, Netflix, USC, Innovation Lab, International Alliance, Walt Disney Co, Disney, Comcast, Warner Bros . Discovery, Apple Studios, Associated Press Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles

The union, SAG-AFTRA, which represents tens of thousands of actors, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of studios, reached the tentative agreement on Wednesday. It followed a bitter standoff that contributed to a near-complete shutdown of production in the entertainment industry. At 118 days, it was the longest movie and television strike in the union’s 90-year history. The actors’ strike, combined with a writers’ strike that started in May and was resolved in September, devastated the entertainment economy. Hundreds of thousands of crew members were idled, with some losing their homes and turning to food banks for groceries.

Persons: ”, Todd Holmes Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, California State University, Northridge Locations: Los Angeles, Georgia , New York , New Jersey, New Mexico

Hollywood is poised to get back to workAfter months of strikes that shut down most of Hollywood, the end appears in sight. The SAG-AFTRA union that represents some 160,000 members tentatively agreed to a new contract with media giants that, if approved, will reinvigorate the $134 billion American movie and television business. Union members are hopeful that the deal will bring significant financial concessions that made SAG-AFTRA’s longest-ever strike worth it. But the changing economics of Hollywood may temper some gains, echoing the dilemma facing resurgent unions elsewhere in the country. Led by the actress Fran Drescher, of “The Nanny” fame, SAG-AFTRA took a maximalist negotiating approach that involved accusing studios of plutocracy and belittling their bosses.

Persons: Fran Drescher, ”, AFTRA Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Writers Guild of America Locations: Hollywood, plutocracy

The actors strike might provide that, though there's still the chance of strike sequels in the months ahead. Here's some of what will happen next:Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesSO IS THE ACTORS STRIKE REALLY OVER? Picket lines are suspended and the only rallies on the horizon are celebratory ones that the actors union is promising will happen. Another actors strike — this one by video game performers — is possible. ___For more coverage of the actors and writers strike, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/

Persons: they're, ” “ Abbott, ”, there's, —, they've “, ” Duncan Crabtree, I’m, ” Crabtree, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Ridley Scott's, “, Kevin Costner's, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brie Larson, That's, Lily Gladstone, didn't, Michael Mann's, “ Ferrari, Adam Driver, Patrick Dempsey, Dempsey, It'll Organizations: ANGELES, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Television Producers, SAG, Associated Press, “ Abbott, Netflix, Globe, International Alliance, Marvel, IATSE Locations: Venice, U.S, hollywood

New York CNN —Hollywood actors have reached a tentative agreement with the major film and television studios to end their historic strike, the actors union announced Wednesday. While the writers’ strike was resolved in September, production has remained shuttered as the actors continued to strike and negotiate their contract. But the actors’ contract negotiations didn’t last long, breaking down on Oct. 11 before returning later in the month. By the end of October, it appeared the actors’ strike was approaching its final scene. But Hollywood actors have not appeared on their shows to promote their movies during the actors strike.

Persons: Fran Drescher, “, ” Drescher, ’, ”, we’ve, AMPTP, Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, ” Bass, George Clooney, Tyler Perry, AFTRA, “ We’re, WGA’s, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Seth Meyers – Organizations: New, New York CNN, Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Writers Guild of America, didn’t, CNN, Angeles Mayor, Writers Guild, WGA Locations: New York, Los Angeles, ”

☆ SAG-AFTRA strike: Hollywood actors and major studios make progress in talks, signaling possible deal on horizon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —It appears the actors’ strike is approaching its final scene. That progress has led to hopes that an agreement could be reached as early as this week or next week, the people said. One such issue, the use of artificial intelligence, has proved to be a sticking point between the writers and studios and required careful examination. SAG-AFTRA told its members early Monday that over the weekend it had “discussed all open proposals,” including A.I., with the studios. That would mean actors, crews, and much of the Hollywood industry would have to endure the holiday season out of work.

Persons: Duncan Crabtree, —, Bob Iger, Discovery’s David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Donna Langley —, AFTRA, Hollywood, “, ” Crabtree, Variety, we’re, ” Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, SAG, Warner Bros, NBC, Sherman

☆ Opinion: I’ve sacrificed for a Hollywood acting career. This is where I draw the line
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Zamira Rahim | Opinion Mehdi Barakchian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In case you haven’t followed the actors’ strike, the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA are negotiating revenue sharing and policies around use of artificial intelligence (AI), among other items. I’m fortunate to have enough success acting full time that I’ve been able to pay my bills and acquire health insurance. Prior to the advent of streaming, actors like me relied on residuals paid out based on how often we appeared in a show and how successful it was. In short, actors work much more to make ends meet and still sometimes find ourselves earning less. When streaming first showed up, it had a lot of work to do to draw and maintain audiences.

Persons: Mehdi Barakchian, Mehdi Barakchian Nick Toren, won’t, “, lister, I’ve, ”, it’s, don’t, AFTRA, What’s, you’re, Ben Affleck, Emma Stone, George Clooney, They’ve Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Disney, Warner Brothers, Netflix, Warner Bros, Twitter, Facebook, teamsters, Writers Guild of America Locations: New York, California, Los Angeles and New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood

☆ SAG-AFTRA strike: All eyes on actors union following tentative deal between studios and writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The tentative WGA deal increases pressure on SAG-AFTRA to reach an agreement along the same lines, although the actors union still has enough leverage to keep productions shut down. The studio’s resolution with WGA will likely pave the way for a deal with SAG-AFTRA within the next few weeks. The writers guild was going to fight the big fight, and the actors will use the gains writers made and customize them for their needs.”SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 14, joining the fray a little more than two months after the writers strike began. A major issue for the actors union is a wage increase of 11% in the first year of the proposed contract term, while the studios have only agreed to a 5% pay raise. According to Nunan, talks with the WGA will likely make studios more amenable to collaborative talks with SAG-AFTRA.

Persons: ”, Tom Nunan, AFTRA, Nunan, “, we’ve, ‘, ’ ”, “ It’s, It’s Organizations: CNN, Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Hollywood, SAG, WGA

☆ Where does the actors’ strike stand?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The resolution of the writers’ strike will not restore Hollywood to normal, as the union representing more than 150,000 actors, SAG-AFTRA, is striking separately and has demands that exceed those of the Writers Guild. No talks between the actors’ union and the studios are currently scheduled. But the writers’ agreement could expedite negotiations, as some of SAG-AFTRA’s concerns are similar to ones raised by the Writers Guild. The actors have been striking since July 14. Among other things, the actors want 2 percent of the total revenue generated by streaming shows, something that studios have said is a nonstarter.

Organizations: Writers, SAG, Writers Guild

☆ SAG-AFTRA requests approval to strike against video game companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —SAG-AFTRA’s National Board is unanimously seeking permission from union members to strike against a number of video game makers ahead of negotiations resuming later this month. The union’s initial contract with major video game companies, the Interactive Media Agreement, was extended past its initial expiration date last fall as SAG-AFTRA “negotiated with the companies for critical terms (members) need,” the union said Friday in a news release. Eligible SAG-AFTRA members will be able to vote on authorizing a strike until September 25 at 5 p.m. PT, the evening before discussions resume. “The interactive nature of games are built upon the use of such technologies,” a source familiar with the companies’ negotiations told CNN. We’re not trying to upend the way video games are made,” the negotiator said.

Persons: AFTRA “, “, ” Fran Drescher, AFTRA, ”, Audrey Cooling, Duncan Crabtree, We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, AFTRA’s, Interactive, Alliance, Television Producers, CNN, “, Activision, Epic Games, WB Games, WB, Warner Bros . Locations: New York

☆ Impact of Hollywood Strikes on Jobs Goes Beyond the Strikers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Lydia Depillis | More About Lydia Depillis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For one thing, many of SAG-AFTRA’s members work for television news stations and aren’t on strike. Between intermittent gigs, they’re used to taking second jobs, like waiting on tables or designing websites. During the strike, they’re also allowed to work in theater and commercials, as well as on a handful of independent projects that have agreed to abide by the union’s demands. “We’re used to being freelancers, and just being able to go along,” said Jodi Long, president of SAG-AFTRA’s Los Angeles local. Even if the industry becomes very busy when the strike ends as studios restock their pipelines, months of income will be hard to replace.

Persons: they’re, “ We’re, ”, Jodi Long, what’s, Ms, Long Organizations: SAG Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Actors decry 'existential crisis' over AI-generated ‘synthetic’ actors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Synthetic performers. One issue is creating synthetic performers from an amalgamation of actors’ images. The producers have promised to obtain a performer’s consent, and bargain separately for subsequent uses of an actor’s doppelganger, sources say. The producers offered to seek a performer’s consent for any changes beyond typical alterations done post-production, sources say. SAG interprets this as AI overreach, and wants permission sought before any changes to an actor’s image, likeness or voice.

Persons: ”, Carly Turro, Duncan Crabtree, ” Crabtree, Crabtree, “, Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway, Kenneth Li, Deepa Babington Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Los Angeles

☆ Universal under investigation after it trimmed trees that shaded SAG-AFTRA protesters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Los Angeles City Controller’s office is investigating after NBCUniversal severely trimmed a row of trees outside its studios where members of SAG-AFTRA were picketing company executives, eliminating shade during a searing heatwave. Our Office is investigating the tree trimming that occurred outside Universal Studios where workers, writers, and actors are exercising their right to picket. The trimmed trees are LA City managed street trees. “Quick shoutout to the good people at @UniversalPics for trimming the trees that gave our picket line shade right before a 90+ degree week,” he wrote. “We understand that the safety tree trimming of the Ficus trees we did on Barham Blvd.

Persons: Kenneth Mejia, Chris Stephens, ”, NBCUniversal, Mejia, Ron Perlman, Instagram, “, ” Perlman, There’s, Pinkerton Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles City, SAG, Universal Studios, LA City, Twitter, Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Disney, Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, ”, Los Angeles Public Works Department, National Weather Service, WGA, Labor Locations: LA, Los Angeles, America

☆ Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Before talks between the Hollywood actors’ union and major film and TV studios broke down, the SAG-AFTRA union enlisted Tom Cruise to lobby on behalf of its members, according to the Hollywood Reporter. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 03: Tom Cruise attends the Australian premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" on July 03, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Lisa Maree Williams/Getty ImagesSAG-AFTRA did not respond to a request for comment on the report and a representative for Tom Cruise declined to comment. Hollywood’s actors joined with the 11,000 members of the Writer’s Guild of America that have been striking against the AMPTP since early May. Cruise himself was portrayed in a series of deepfakes created by a visual and AI effects artist on TikTok earlier this year.

Persons: Tom Cruise, Cruise, Lisa Maree Williams, AFTRA, “, ”, Fran Drescher Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, SAG, Getty, AFTRA, Alliance, Television Producers, Writer’s Guild of America Locations: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Sydney, Australia

☆ Why celebrities are on strike: Not every actor makes Tom Cruise money
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However, the BLS noted in the data that actors aren’t paid full-time year-round due to the nature of the job. Screen Actors Guild members and supporters on a picket line in Times Square in New York, US, on Friday, July 14, 2023. Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesBefore the contract between actors and movie studios officially expired this week, SAG-AFTRA members had negotiated specific minimum rates for performers. For example, an actor who worked on a television show for one week was paid a minimum of $3,756. According to Shaan Sharma, an actor and SAG-AFTRA board member, just 12.7% of SAG-AFTRA members qualify for the union’s health plan.

Persons: they’ve, Meryl Streep, Matt Damon, Fran Drescher, you’re, aren’t, Yuki Iwamura, Kellee Stewart, ”, “, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Forbes, Johnson, Cruise, Tom Cruise, Barry Diller, ‘, ” Diller, “ I’m, Shaan Sharma, Rod McLachlan, it’s, ” McLachlan, Chris Pizzello, ” Stewart, Stewart, “ There’s, Bob Iger, ’, Iger, Netflix’s, Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, “ Rather, AFTRA, Kevin Klowden, Klowden, Natasha Chen Organizations: CNN, SAG, Hollywood, Hollywood’s, Guild of America, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, Guild, Bloomberg, Getty, Forbes, Variety, CBS, Sunday, Paramount, Netflix, Twitter, Disney, CNBC, Walt Disney Studios, The Alliance, Television Producers, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Apple, Warner Bros, Milken Institute Locations: California, New York, Los Angeles, London, Australia, New Zealand

Many of the actors’ demands mirror those of the writers, whose own strike had already brought many productions to a halt. Actors and screenwriters have not been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Marilyn Monroe was still near her peak. The first distress signal for the studios came in early June when roughly 65,000 members of the actors’ union — nearly 98 percent of voters — backed authorizing a strike. The actors’ walkout would provide additional support to the striking writers, who have been walking picket lines for more than 70 days. Read more about the writers’ strike.

Persons: Brooks Barnes, John Koblin, ’, Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, John Leguizamo, Jennifer Lawrence, Constance Wu, Ben Stiller, ”, Fran Drescher, ” Ms, Drescher, “ Organizations: SAG, Disney, Universal, Sony, Paramount, Netflix, Apple, —, Alliance, Television Producers, Writers Guild of America Locations: California

☆ Actors union vote to authorize July strike, possibly joining writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If the actors do walk out, they would join members of the Writers Guild of America already on picket lines. The DGA tentative deal “doesn’t hurt the leverage or the pursuit of better working conditions for the writers and possibly the actors. : An Industry at War in the Internet Age.” He puts the chance of an actors’ strike at about two to one. Some television shows, particularly late night shows that are written daily in order to be timely, have had their production halted by the writers’ strike. Some shows and films that have had scripts already completed have continued to film since the writers went on strike.

Persons: isn’t, Radio Artists “, ”, Fran Drescher, “ I’m, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, “, Tom Nunan, doesn’t, Jonathan Handel, Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, — American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Companies, Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, Warner Bros ., Guild of America, DGA, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

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