LOS ANGELES (AP) - This week, union board members representing television and movie actors are scheduled to evaluate a tentative contract agreement reached with studios and streaming services. The agreement was disclosed on Saturday but requires approval from the board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) before it can go to a vote among the members. If both approvals are granted, the entertainment industry can avoid a recurrence of the significant disruptions caused by the 2023 actor and writer strikes, which shook Hollywood. Notably, negotiations this year have been relatively smooth, with no indication that further strikes are imminent.
The tentative agreement was announced in a joint statement from SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which includes a coalition of major studios, streaming platforms, and production companies. However, specific details regarding the contract will remain confidential until the union's board reviews them thoroughly.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the agreement is designed for a four-year term, differing from the traditional three-year contracts typically employed in the industry. The individual declined to comment on the record due to lack of authorization for public disclosure.
The union's primary concerns entering the negotiations included enhancing protections against the use of artificial intelligence to create synthetic performers or replicate the likenesses of actual actors. Additionally, securing improved long-term payments for television shows re-aired, known within the industry as residuals, was a key agenda item for the actors.
Before the talks commenced, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin emphasized the necessity of safeguarding the progress achieved during the strikes. He stated, "There is no going back," highlighting the importance of maintaining the gains made in previous negotiations. Astin also noted that studios appeared to be signaling a desire for stability and partnership in dealing with the union.
While the actors' leadership expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions, studios were also cautiously hopeful that a just agreement could be established. The negotiations lasted approximately six weeks, following a commencement date of February 9. However, discussions were temporarily halted as studios shifted their focus to negotiations with writers, who similarly reached a four-year agreement rather than the customary three-year deal.
The current SAG-AFTRA contract is set to expire on June 30. In years without strikes, negotiations often reach a critical juncture or even surpass the deadline. Now that the actor talks have concluded, AMPTP negotiators are prepared to initiate contract discussions with the Directors Guild, marking the first negotiations under new president Christopher Nolan, scheduled to start on May 11.
