SAG-AFTRA Talks Suspended, Leaving Industry in Disarray

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) decision to suspend bargaining talks with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has shocked union president Fran Drescher. Talks fell apart after SAG proposed a "levy" on streaming subscribers, which the AMPTP claimed would cost them over $800 million per year. Drescher argues that the proposed levy is minimal and necessary to address the unsustainable payment structure for actors on streaming platforms. The issue of artificial intelligence (AI) protections also remains unresolved. SAG-AFTRA canceled pickets due to safety concerns unrelated to the strike.