Hollywood’s major film and television studios and the union representing 160,000 actors were engaged in last-ditch talks on Wednesday ahead of midnight to avoid a second labor strike in the entertainment business. SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood’s largest union, is demanding higher compensation in the streaming TV era plus safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and members have authorized a strike if negotiators cannot reach a deal. If a strike does occur, it will disrupt the production of late-night talk shows, the fall TV season, and the filming of some big-budget movies.
SAG-AFTRA is the first of Hollywood’s significant actors’ guilds to see its contract expire, and many fear it could become the first strike in the industry since 1980. Its national board is scheduled to meet Thursday morning and vote on whether to call a strike.
A strike would force more sets to shut down and pile pressure on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios. Late Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA negotiators agreed to a studio request to call in a federal mediator but said they would not budge from the Wednesday night deadline. The union also accused studio representatives of “abusing our trust” by leaking details of the talks to the media.
The last time the major players in Hollywood went on strike was in 1980, which lasted 95 days and halted almost all film and TV productions. A second strike by SAG-AFTRA, representing both onscreen and voiceover actors, would wreak economic havoc in the US and international markets. However, there is hope that the actors’ union will reach a deal with the AMPTP, which is still optimistic that it can avoid a strike.
Several top talent agents have contacted SAG-AFTRA leaders, offering to smooth the path to a settlement. One of the most high-profile is Uber agent Scott Rudin, who heads the IMG agency representing many of Tinseltown’s starriest stars. He was approached by the union’s leader, Gabrielle Miller, on Monday and told her he would be available to help with the negotiations.
How much influence a union representative from IMG will have in the negotiations is still being determined. However, having an experienced agent overseeing the process is a potential way to break the logjam. It is also believed that the AMPTP is preparing to offer some concessions, including allowing actors to sign up for work on multiple platforms at once and lowering minimum salaries.
