Negotiations Between Hollywood Studios and Actors Cease, Actors Decry ‘Intimidation Tactics’

37

Negotiations between Hollywood studios and actors abruptly ended on Wednesday evening, dashing hopes that the three-month-long actors’ strike might conclude in the foreseeable future.

Studios declared the suspension of contract discussions, highlighting that the existing divide was too substantial to pursue further talks. This decision came even in light of a proposal akin to the one that had previously terminated the writers’ strike. The actors’ union criticized the studios, accusing them of employing “intimidation tactics” and grossly misrepresenting their propositions.

On October 2, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) recommenced discussions with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). This alliance stands for studios, streaming platforms, and production firms during these strike negotiations.

Interestingly, the writers’ strike had ceased within five days of restarting their talks the previous month. Unfortunately, negotiations with the actors’ union did not follow a similar trajectory.

The studios chose to withdraw from discussions upon reviewing the actors’ latest proposal on Wednesday.

The AMPTP issued a statement expressing, “The disparity between AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA is evident, and our dialogues are not proving fruitful.”

According to the AMPTP, the proposal from SAG-AFTRA could lead to an additional annual expenditure of $800 million, which would place “an unsustainable economic strain.” However, SAG-AFTRA countered this claim in a letter to its members dispatched on Thursday, asserting that this figure had been inflated by 60%. The union expressed its deep disappointment at the studios for ending the discussions.

The correspondence emphasized, “We have interacted with them earnestly, notwithstanding their recent proposal which was surprisingly lesser in value than their pre-strike offer.”

The actors’ strike revolves around demands for better pay for streamed content and the authority over the utilization of their AI-generated likenesses.

The AMPTP contended that their offers were as liberal as the agreements which resolved the writers’ strike and led to a fresh contract for the directors guild this year.

However, the union’s letter to the actors asserted that the studios “decline to shield actors from AI substitution, they decline to adjust your salaries with inflation, and they decline to allocate a minimal part of the vast income YOUR efforts yield for them.”

From its inception, the negotiations involving actors lacked the vigor which characterized the writers’ strike, leading to its resolution. Even after resumption, actors and studios took numerous breaks, and there were no indications of substantial progress, despite the direct engagement of major studio heads, including those from Disney and Netflix.

In contrast, writers experienced an early hiccup in their talks. Their initial discussions to recommence broke down within days. Yet, the Writers Guild of America members voted overwhelmingly in favor of their new contract recently.

Their leaders celebrated the agreement, stating it achieved most of their objectives from when they began their strike almost five months prior. They announced the end of their strike on September 26, sending writers back to their tasks. Consequently, late-night shows resumed broadcasting within a week, with shows like “Saturday Night Live” set to rejoin shortly.

However, without actors, filming of scripted series and films remains halted for an undetermined period.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hollywood actors’ strike

More about Hollywood actors’ strike

• Hollywood actors vs. studios: A deeper dive into the strike
• The rising role of AI in the entertainment industry
• A comparative look: Writers’ strike vs. Actors’ strike
• SAG-AFTRA’s official statement on negotiations
• AMPTP’s perspective on the halted talks
• Economic implications of the actors’ strike on the film industry
• Historical strikes in Hollywood: A retrospective