The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has ended the longest strike in Hollywood‘s history after spending 118 days on picket lines.
“We have arrived at a contract that will enable SAG-AFTRA members from every category to build sustainable careers,” the union said in a note to members.
The actors’ union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have come to terms, agreeing to a contract valued at over 1 billion dollars.The main issues that were resolved include the use ofartificial intelligence in actors’ performances and residual payments for actors for shows and movies that stream online. Although no details of the agreement have been disclosed as of yet.
One of the sticking points for the actors has also been the use of generative AI.
Studios proposed an AI plan that SAG opposed, claiming it allowed studios to scan background performers and use them as digital characters indefinitely without permission from the union or their estate. The actors’ guild rejected the studios’ proposal, citing the lack of agreement on several matters, including AI. The guild demanded compensation and consent.
In September, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) ended its strike after reaching an agreement that included provisions related to AI.
This week, the two unions came to terms. The studios agreed to adjust the AI language in their latest proposal, which has been accepted by the SAG-AFTRA.
The new contract prohibits studios from using generative AI to write or revise literary material, and anything produced by AI cannot be considered source material. The use of AI software by writers is optional, and the studios must inform the writers if any materials given to them contain AI-generated content. Additionally, the contract explicitly prohibits the exploitation of writers’ work to train AI.
Due to writer and actor strikes, Hollywood projects were halted for months. Now that the strikes have ended, productions can resume filming.