End of the series. After months of strike, Hollywood actors ratified the agreement with the studios putting an end to their movement and marking the “return to strength” of a paralyzed industry. But what did the actors get with this deal? 20 minutes takes stock for you.
Better salaries
Concluded after one hundred and eighteen days of strike, the agreement notably includes a significant increase in minimum salaries and a bonus system for actors starring in a film or series that is successful during its streaming.
Opponents of ratification, however, judge that the audience required to generate the payment of a bonus linked to streaming was too high, which would only benefit the best-off players. It also provides an envelope of more than a billion dollars in compensation and benefits for actors.
AI supervision
Although perceived as a formality, the ratification left the industry somewhat nervous, with certain terms of the contract arousing clear opposition from stakeholders, particularly on artificial intelligence (AI). “The contract is shit,” said Michael Vaccaro, who is among the dozens of actors publicly engaged against ratification, before the vote.
“I voted against it. And I am completely ready to resume the strike. Absolutely, 100%,” assured the actor to AFP. The agreement intends to establish safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence (AI), a first. Performers fear they will soon be replaced by entirely digital “actors,” generated by artificial intelligence by stitching together body parts of many different humans from film archives. The contract does not prevent studios from using AI, but it does contain a clause requiring them to notify the union whenever the technology is used. SAG-AFTRA would then have the right to negotiate compensation on behalf of affected actors, even though critics say they would be difficult to identify.