SAG-AFTRA has released a 128-page document detailing the contract terms following the end of the 118-day actors strike, after pressure from members. The contracts include over $1 billion in new compensation and benefit plan funding, as well as provisions for AI protections, increased background coverage, and streaming residuals. The union president highlighted the importance of new revenue for members on SVOD platforms and the need for AI protections. Voting on ratification began on November 14 and ballots are due on December 5.
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the studios will continue on Wednesday as they aim to salvage the 2024 summer box office. The studios delivered a new offer on streaming residuals, hoping to break the deadlock that has led to a 103-day strike. The two sides have also been stymied over issues related to artificial intelligence regulation. If the strike runs into November, more film releases will be delayed, and there will be little chance of producing even half a season of network TV. The union has faced pressure to end the strike, but actors like Zachary Quinto have urged members to support leadership and stay united.
Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA, is facing a leadership test as A-list actors, including George Clooney, push for a deal to end the 100-day strike. The actors presented a proposal to increase dues on high-earning actors and reconfigure residuals, but Drescher rebuffed their ideas. She emphasized her own plan for a new form of streaming residual and urged members to champion the union's full proposal package. The union sent a message to actors to stay united and continue supporting the strike, while the CEOs of studios are frustrated with Drescher's approach.
George Clooney and other A-list actors propose eliminating the $1 million cap on union membership dues to contribute more towards the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union, potentially bringing in over $150 million over the next three years. The funds would be used to provide health benefits for members. However, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher clarified that the offer does not impact the contract being struck over, as only employer contributions can go into the pension and health plans. The proposal also suggests reformulating how actors earn streaming residuals.
Hollywood actors represented by SAG-AFTRA are set to resume talks with major studios after the conclusion of the writers' strike. The union is fighting for better pay, improved working conditions, higher streaming residuals, and more protections regarding the use of artificial intelligence in media and entertainment. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) recently reached a deal with studios after a 150-day strike, achieving many of their demands. SAG-AFTRA is expected to reach a similar conclusion, although they will negotiate a deal specific to their member base. Wage increases will likely be a sticking point, with the union demanding an 11% general wage increase in year one.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has ended their nearly 150-day strike after reaching a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios. The three-year deal includes a 12.5% pay increase, with writers receiving 5% upon contract ratification and subsequent increases of 4% and 3.5% in the following years. Writers also secured a 76% increase in foreign streaming residuals, along with a viewership-based streaming bonus. The agreement also addresses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in productions, establishing guidelines to protect writers' credits and rights. Mandatory staffing requirements were also implemented, ensuring a minimum number of writer-producers during the development and production of series.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) will have another meeting to negotiate an end to the ongoing writers strike. The strike, which has lasted for 102 days, is centered around issues such as the use of A.I. in the film industry and streaming residuals. Both parties have been exchanging proposals and will continue to meet next week. The WGA appreciates the support and solidarity from its members and urges caution regarding rumors from third parties.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and representatives of major studios, including Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, met again to find a resolution to the ongoing writers strike. The two sides remain far apart on issues such as staffing minimums in TV and streaming residuals. The CEOs of the studios are expected to discuss the next move in a joint call on Friday. While progress has been slow, there is hope for limited agreements that could create momentum for further negotiations. The WGA issued a report criticizing Netflix, Amazon, and Disney for lowering writers' pay and called for antitrust regulators to block further consolidation in the industry.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has responded to the latest proposal from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), but there is no quick end in sight for the 106-day strike. While the WGA made some minor concessions, they did not offer the significant concessions the studios were hoping for. The two sides remain at odds on various issues, including minimum staff size for TV writers, streaming residuals, and a higher minimum tier for TV writer-producers. The WGA is also seeking provisions related to honoring other unions' picket lines and maintaining funding for the union health plan during the strike.
Actor Tommy Dorfman, known for their role in Netflix's "13 Reasons Why," revealed that they earned only $29,953.24 for the entire first season of the show, prior to fees and taxes. Dorfman highlighted the extensive promotional work and travel they did for the series, as well as the lack of pay and insurance benefits. This comes as actors continue to disclose their low streaming residuals, with other stars like Mandy Moore and Sean Gunn sharing similar experiences. The revelations shed light on the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike and the need for fair compensation in the industry.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos expressed the company's commitment to ending the ongoing Hollywood strikes, which have seen actors join writers on the picket line for the first time since 1960. Sarandos acknowledged the challenges in reaching an agreement but emphasized the need for a resolution that is equitable and allows the industry to move forward. Netflix reported mixed results for the quarter but exceeded expectations in profitability metrics. The company is among the best-positioned in the event of a prolonged work stoppage, according to a report by Moody's. Actors are fighting for more protections regarding artificial intelligence and higher streaming residuals.
Mandy Moore reveals that she has received "very tiny" checks, as low as 81 cents or even a penny, for streaming residuals from the hit series "This Is Us." This highlights the ongoing issue of compensation for actors in the streaming industry, as they often receive significantly less than their counterparts in broadcast or cable TV. Moore emphasizes the importance of residuals for actors to sustain their livelihoods and acknowledges the fortunate position she and other working actors are in, while recognizing that many actors before them relied on residuals to make a living.
Mandy Moore, star of This Is Us, spoke out about the issue of small residual checks in the streaming era during the SAG-AFTRA strike. Moore revealed that she has received checks for as little as one or two cents, highlighting the significant impact on actors' income.
This Is Us star Mandy Moore joined hundreds of actors in the SAG-AFTRA strike against Hollywood's streamers and studios over core issues like streaming residuals. Moore revealed that she has received checks as low as a penny for the hit show's streaming deal with Hulu. The residual issue is a major concern for actors, as the traditional model of re-airing shows to sustain income has changed in the era of streaming. SAG-AFTRA proposed a new media revenue sharing proposal, which was rejected by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The lack of streaming residuals and transparency from streamers like Netflix and Disney is a key issue for both the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA and the studios have extended their contract talks beyond the deadline, with issues such as streaming residuals and artificial intelligence remaining unresolved. The union, representing 160,000 performers, has agreed to extend the contract until July 12 to continue negotiations. If talks break down, the union could call for a strike. SAG-AFTRA is seeking AI protections, a streaming residual formula, and improvements to its pension and health plans. The Writers Guild of America has been on strike for nearly two months, and an actors' strike would halt most scripted film and TV production.
