After 118 days of strike, the 2023 actors strike has come to an end as SAG-AFTRA has come to a tentative deal on a new three-year contract with studios. The agreement was unanimously approved by the SAG-AFTRA TV/ Theatrical Committee with the strike ending at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday. On Friday the deal was sent to the union’s national board for approval.
The actors strike along with the strike by Writers Guild of America (WGA) has caused the California economy more than $6 billion.
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OTT platforms to share revenues with actors
President of SAG-AFTRA Fran Drescher said the union has partly achieved its goals to secure more revenue for actors from streaming services. A $40 million bonus pay from streaming services has been secured as the tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA actors and major Hollywood studios. This three year contract is valued at over $1 billion total and was endorsed by 86% of SAG-AFTRA’s national board.
Now union members will begin voting on whether or not to ratify the agreement with various members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Produces (AMPTP). The voting is expected to end in early December.
While studios rejected a per-subscriber fee proposal, they have agreed to bonus payments. Under the agreement 75% of the $40 million will go to actors with most popular streaming shows and the remaining 25% will go to a fund that will be distributed to actors on other streaming shows.
AI contract requires consent of actors
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, said the Artificial Intelligence (AI) issue was resolved in the negotiation with guardrails set against AI use in filmmaking.
The studios are required to get consent from the actors whose features are being used to make a digital replica along with a payment given to the actor equivalent for the type of work the replica is performing on screen. This also includes background performers, who must give their consent before use of synthetic performers based on their facial features, even if it’s more than one performer.
Furthermore, studios have to inform the union prior to use of generative AI to create synthetic performers and the union holds the right to negotiate on behalf of the actor whose features are being utilized in creation of a digital replica.
Films resuming production after actor’s strike ends
Many films stopped production mid-way due to the actors’ strike. Following are the list of movies we hope to see resume filming soon-
Wicked- The movie starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, and Bowen Yang reportedly stopped production with only 10 days of production left as the cast vocally supported the actors strike.
The Movie Critic- Quentin Tarantino’s 10th and final film, as reported by World of Reel, delayed filming due to the actor’s strike. The movie is about a female porn critic set in the 1970s.
Dune #2- Originally meant to grace the screens on November 3rd this gem has been postponed till March 25th 2024. It stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh.
Juror #2- This american thriller starring Nicholas Hoult, Kiefer Sutherland, Toni Collette, and Zoey Deutch will continue production with the end of the actor’s strike. It is believed to be Clint Eastwood’s last movie.
Beetlejuice 2- Production was paused on this Tim-Burton movie which was scheduled to be released for halloween 2024. It stars Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, and Catherine O’hara.
Venom 3- This Kelly Marcel directed installment in the Venom franchise will eagerly begin production by the end of this year.
