SAG-AFTRA signs new studio deal

Last Friday (10), the Hollywood Actors Union (SAG-AFTRA) signed a provisional contract with the major studios (represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, AMPTP), in order to end the strike that it had already lasted 118 days.

“This victory is a victory for everyone”, declared the union's national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

Contract definitions

According to Variety, the provisional contract, approved with 86% of the vote, determines a 7% increase in most actors' minimum salaries, in addition to more than US$1 billion in new salaries and benefit plan funding.

The actors' strike mainly demanded payments to actors for re-airing programs on streaming services, which was met by the new contract. The approved agreement defines a bonus of US$40 million in which 25% – around US$10 million – will be sent to an artist fund and the rest will go to the cast of streaming productions that achieve certain success.

Another important factor for the Hollywood Actors Guild involved the use of artificial intelligence in the industry. According to the association, the agreement includes protections against the use of this technology, only allowing the creation of “digital replicas”, but with the permission and payment of the actors.

Furthermore, with the approval of the new contract, the presence of intimacy coordinators is mandatory in all nude and simulated sex scenes.

SAG-AFTRA, however, reported that it was unable to meet all the demands imposed on the studios, such as a share of streaming revenue.

“This is a living, ongoing thing – a contract. And we're not done yet. We are just getting started”declared SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher.

End of the strike

The Hollywood actors' strike, which ended last Thursday (09), lasted for 118 days. Days before the approval of the agreement, on Wednesday (08), AMPTP (representative of the studios) stated that this would be their last proposal and, as a result, negotiations would only resume next year – which would further delay the release of Hollywood.

With the end of the writers' strike at the end of October, productions – such as Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order and The Simpsons, as well as independent projects – were able to resume activities. However, actors were still prohibited from participating and publicizing their work.

With the new contract, the category should return to the recording sets soon. According to Deadline, minutes after the agreement was approved, Hollywood production teams and actors began discussing resuming projects for the end of November and beginning of December.

Featured photo: Hollywood Actors Guild meeting. (Reproduction/SAG-AFTRA),