After more than a hundred days on strike, SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are finally progressing in their negotiations. While members of the former are cautiously optimistic, they still hold onto the hope that this could mean a proper end to the strike.
While they have reached some makeshift agreements on the strike’s points, there are still others that have forced these negotiations into a standstill. Specifically, the two unions are clashing over the usage of AI and how it can affect actors’ livelihoods. SAG-AFTRA has pushed for guardrails on this new technology to protect their work, but most studios have been standoffish about regulating its use.
Even so, the negotiations have made far more progress than the previous attempt in early October, where SAG-AFTRA alleged that the AMPTP had refused to listen to any of their proposals. Now, the talks are being attended by the four big studio heads: Bob Iger (Disney), David Zaslav (Warner Bros. Discovery), Ted Sarandos (Netflix), and Donna Langley (NBC Universal). Chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland stated that both sides have been working on their proposals separately on Monday and will resume their talks this week at the Sherman Oaks negotiating table.
Many people hope the strikes can be resolved in time for the latter half of the winter season. If they do not make the deal soon, countless actors will remain out of work even if a new deal is made by November or December.
“That’s why we worked all weekend long, and we’re not taking any time off from trying to push this process forward,” Crabtree-Ireland explained in an interview.
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