IATSE and Hollywood studios have yet to reach a deal on the Basic Agreement and Area Standards Agreement, with more talks planned before the union's contracts expire on July 31. Despite productive negotiations, economic issues like wage increases and pension funds remain unresolved. The union is firm on not extending the contract deadline, raising concerns about a potential strike. Other unions, including Teamsters Local 399, are also set to begin negotiations soon.
The Motion Picture Editors Guild, a part of IATSE, has reached a tentative agreement with AMPTP on its craft-specific proposals, joining eight other locals in doing so. Negotiations for the Basic Agreement are ongoing, with a focus on AI, pension, and health funding, and are scheduled to begin on April 29, with the current agreement expiring on July 31. The local agreements are not binding until the entire Basic Agreement is ratified, and further negotiations with other unions, including Teamsters Local 399, are still pending.
The tentative deal between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP includes higher minimum wages for background actors and provisions for artificial intelligence (AI) protections. The agreement also outlines a new model for streaming residuals, with the top 20% of shows receiving a 75% increase and the remaining 25% going into a jointly managed fund. The deal will be reviewed by SAG-AFTRA's national board, and more details are expected to be released. Tens of thousands of actors had gone on strike in July after failing to reach a contract agreement with AMPTP.
Contract talks between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have stalled due to the studios' desire to own actors' digitally scanned likenesses in perpetuity. The AMPTP's proposed contract would allow studios to secure the likenesses of certain performers without their consent or the consent of their estates. SAG-AFTRA has refused this proposal and is pushing for changes that would require studios to pay actors each time their faces are used and obtain their consent. The strike has brought attention to the need for protections for all actors, including background actors, and highlights concerns about how actors' faces are used for commercial purposes.
SAG-AFTRA may take an additional day to respond to the studios' "last, best and final" offer as the union's negotiating committee evaluates their next move. Some committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the offer and urged A-list actors to pressure studio heads for better terms. The studios' offer includes a success-based bonus structure in streaming, but the union is holding out for a cut of total streaming revenue and stronger protections against the use of AI. The studios have indicated that this offer is non-negotiable, but the union can push back and remains on strike.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is currently reviewing a proposal from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) following a meeting between the two parties. The proposal, which the studios describe as their "last, best, and final offer," includes a significant wage increase and improved compensation bonuses for high-budget streaming series and movies. Both sides express cautious optimism, but the exact status of the negotiations and the likelihood of reaching a new three-year contract remain uncertain. The meeting included an expanded group of studio CEOs, indicating the industry's urgency to restart TV and film production after suffering significant losses due to the strikes and shutdowns.
The Writers Guild of America has announced that the 2024 WGA Awards will be held on April 14, more than a month after the 2024 Oscars, in order to give guild members more time to submit their work following the recently resolved strike against the AMPTP. This move further disconnects the WGA Awards from the rest of the awards season and reduces studio lobbying and talent attendance at the ceremony.
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are in the final stretch, with optimism that a deal may be reached within days. Both sides have made significant progress on bridging the gap over success-based compensation for streaming shows and their casts. The most challenging point to be resolved is agreeing on streaming revenue monies for actors. The studios are feeling the pressure to restart global feature and TV production, as three big movies worth $1.5 billion have already been moved off the 2024 calendar. The strike has also raised concerns about the survival of exhibition companies next year.
Negotiations between Hollywood's studios and streamers and the SAG-Aftra union are under pressure to reach a deal as the months-long actor's strike continues to impact the industry. Progress was made during Thursday's negotiations, but Friday's meeting has been challenging, with both sides far apart on key issues such as residuals in the streaming era, AI protections, and a levy on subscribers. The strike has cost the California economy over $5 billion, resulted in job losses, and caused production delays. The uncertainty looms over the industry as many actors face financial difficulties and productions are pushed back.
Talks between SAG-AFTRA and the studios are set to resume on Friday with "cautious optimism" after negotiations today ended after almost five hours. The discussions focused on SAG-AFTRA's response to the studios' offer of increased bonuses and minimum rates. The guild, which has been on strike for 105 days, recognized the tactical significance of the studios' proposal and offered a compromise. While progress has been made, nothing was resolved in today's meeting. The strike has cost the Southern California economy an estimated $6.5 billion and 45,000 jobs.
SAG-AFTRA's chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, expressed cautious optimism as talks between the union and the AMPTP continue to resolve the ongoing actors strike. Negotiations were briefly delayed to allow SAG-AFTRA time to review the latest proposals from the studios. Crabtree-Ireland emphasized the union's focus on reaching a fair deal and disregarded rumors, stating their eagerness to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) will resume negotiations on Tuesday after a two-week halt. The decision to resume talks came from the management side, and the union's negotiating committee expressed readiness to achieve a deal. The resumption of negotiations comes as SAG-AFTRA's strike reaches its 100-day mark, and internal pressure mounts on union leadership. The talks are crucial for the industry to shoot new TV episodes and movies before the year ends. The four leaders involved in the contract discussions with SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) may or may not be present in the new round of negotiations.
SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP are set to resume negotiations on Tuesday after a week of silence. Talks broke apart on October 11 when SAG-AFTRA proposed a revenue share plan with a 75 cents per subscriber annual charge. The studios rejected the proposal, calling it an "untenable economic burden." Hollywood stars, including George Clooney and Scarlett Johansson, pledged $150 million over three years to remove a cap on union dues, but union leader Fran Drescher said it would be incompatible with the contract being negotiated. The ongoing strike, along with the WGA strike, has cost the California economy $5 billion and resulted in the loss of 45,000 jobs. The theatrical release calendar is also expected to be affected, with major studios likely to delay movie releases.
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher marked day 100 of the union's strike against the AMPTP by writing an op-ed, describing it as a "David-and-Goliath, righteous fight." Talks have stalled since the AMPTP walked out of negotiations in October. Drescher addressed reports of A-list celebrities trying to get SAG to settle, calling it a propaganda attempt. She listed the guild's key negotiation points, including increased employer contributions to health and pension funds, minimum-wage increases for lowest-paid members, compensation for the use of AI, and fair compensation for the shift to streaming.
Major Hollywood unions, including the Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, and IATSE, are urging the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to resume negotiations with SAG-AFTRA immediately. The unions argue that the delay in reaching a fair contract is causing unnecessary suffering for industry professionals who are out of work. They demand that the AMPTP make meaningful moves at the negotiating table to address performers' specific needs and provide them with the fair deal they deserve. The ongoing strikes have taken a toll on the industry, with Hollywood charities reporting a surge in demand for financial assistance and the entertainment sector losing 45,000 jobs since May.
