As of July 14th, SAG-AFTRA officially joined the WGA on the picket lines. SAG-AFTRA is seeking many changes to the industry, including ones that have not yet come to light. Chief among these changes involve share in the revenue for streaming shows, increases to minimum base rates, and finding a way to work around the concept of artificial intelligence. However, as mentioned, dozens of the issues the guild and the union have been protesting remain unknown to the public, even to the degree that the two sides can’t fully agree on the disagreements, Variety reports.
In regards to the streaming revenue, the union is asking for 2% of the revenue that streaming shows make. Using a tool created by Parrot Analytics, called Content Valuation, the union would find out how much the show is worth to the platform. It wouldn’t look at the viewership, but rather how the show itself impacts the revenue for the service as a whole.
As far as the pay increases go, AMPTP offered the guild the same increases approved by the DGA. This includes a 5% raise to minimum rates within the first contract year, followed by a 4% increase and a 3.5% increase. The union said that this doesn’t line up with inflation and asked for 11%, 4%, and 4%. They were also offered an 11% increase for background actors and 58% for guest stars on streaming shows, with the union agreeing to the 58%.
While artificial intelligence is still a hot topic, SAG-AFTRA isn’t seeking to totally ban it, or regulate it. There are regulations that AMPTP has agreed to but this has left many feeling there is too big a gray area for them to take advantage of. The union wants to be sure that if AI was to ever generate a talent’s performance, they would have to get their consent to use it, as well as union consent. While the AMPTP has still agreed to some of the propositions, there is still a looming fear that they could use it to make artificial performances.
For further updates on the SAG-AFTRA strike, stay with us here.
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