New Contract Between Actors And Hollywood: All You Need To Know

The entertainment industry has been tense for months as actors and performers protest over unfair conditions in Hollywood. While this historic strike lasted 118 days, it ended with a new contract between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP.

This brief article will dive deeper into this new development, analyzing the strike, the new agreement, and its consequences for the entertainment industry. We’ll also reveal when favorite shows will return and more essential details.

Read on!

Everything About the SAG-AFTRA Strike

The 118-day strike by the SAG-AFTRA union, representing actors and other performers, disrupted the production of many movies and TV shows. Multiple issues caused the strike, and these include:

• Low pay and residuals for streaming and digital platforms
• The lack of health and safety standards
• Using artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate performers

The SAG-AFTRA union demanded a new contract to address these concerns and protect the rights and interests of all performers. The union required Hollywood to address the low pay and residuals for streaming platforms, which were unsustainable for many actors.

They also requested a reevaluation of the use of AI to recreate or manipulate the voice and likeness of performers, which the union fears will harm some careers. Therefore, the new contract should compensate actors whenever AI uses their likenesses and voices.

The union also requested an increased minimum rate to keep pace with inflation, which the union said would amount to an 11% increase in the contract’s first year. 

Until these requests were considered, performers remained on strike, refusing to contribute to new Hollywood projects.

New Contract Between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP

After months of negotiations, the union and the AMPTP, the association representing the major studios and producers, reached an agreement. The agreement included a new fund to compensate performers for using their voice and likeness in AI applications, as well as other changes in wages, residuals, health benefits, and working conditions.

The contract was approved by the union’s board on November 10th and sent to the union’s members for a ratification vote, which lasted until December 26th. The outcome of the vote was expected to have a significant impact on the future of the entertainment industry and the role of performers in it.

According to the union, the contract presents benefits that include:

• An 11% wage increase in the first year followed by a 3% increase in the following years.
• Improved safety standards, including new provisions for COVID-19 testing and vaccination, sexual harassment prevention, stunt coordination, and diversity and inclusion.
• AI recognition, where performers will be compensated for using their voice and likeness via artificial intelligence.

The ratification vote ended on December 26th, with most members voting in favor of the contract. The final tally was 68.7% yes and 31.3% no, with a turnout of 52.3%. The contract was officially ratified and will go into effect on January 1st, 2024, and will last for three years, until December 31, 2026.  

Arguments Against the Contract 

It’s worth mentioning that the contract was not without controversy, as some performers expressed concerns about the deal, while others praised it as a fair and historic achievement. 

One of the main issues made about the new deal is that the AI fund does not address the potential risk Artificial intelligence poses to performers’ career

Additionally, some performers argued that the residuals were still too low for streaming platforms and didn’t reflect the changing landscape of the entertainment industry. SAG-AFTRA also received criticism for abandoning some demands, like setting a shorter streaming window and a higher percentage of revenue.    

Despite these criticisms, the union’s leaders defended the contract as a historic deal that secured important gains and protections for the performers. 

What Does This Mean for the Entertainment Industry?

The new contract between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP has significant implications for the entertainment industry and its performers. The most significant is a resumption in the production of movies and TV shows.

The entertainment industry will also have to adapt and innovate to the new realities and demands of the performers and the audiences.

At the same time, there will be more discussions regarding the use and regulation of AI, the distribution and monetization of content, and the representation and diversity of the performers and the stories.

Lastly, the contract is a victory for performers, empowering and inspiring them to continue their activism to shape the future of the entertainment industry and the role of performers. 

As the union’s president, Fran Drescher, said in a statement: “This is a historic moment for our union and our industry. The world now knows we are together, strong, and ready for the future.”

When Will Hollywood Get Back To Production?

Since the strike is finally over with SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP reaching an agreement, customers are curious about when their favorite shows will resume filming.

The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as the genre, scale, and budget of the film, the availability of the cast and crew, and the COVID-19 safety protocols. 

Nevertheless, some films and TV shows that the strike delayed resumed or announced their production schedules. For instance, the final season of Stranger Things will begin filming in January 2024.

It’s worth noting that the production delay was not only the product of the strike but also the ongoing pandemic. The entertainment industry has to follow strict guidelines and protocols to ensure the safety and health of everyone involved. 

This may result in additional costs, delays, and challenges for the filmmakers and performers. Therefore, it is important to be patient and supportive of the industry as it recovers from the strike and adapts to the new situation.

Conclusion 

Ultimately, the new contract between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP is an impressive achievement for the entertainment industry, presenting lasting impacts on the production, distribution, and consumption of movies and TV shows.

It also challenges the use and regulation of AI, ensuring performers get proper compensation. While some members of SAG-AFTRA argue against the new agreement, there’s a possibility that the union will address these qualms with time.

For now, the current agreement is sufficient for many performers, and production will resume as soon as possible.