SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios are set to resume negotiations next week after a halt in discussions since October 11. Both sides have announced that they will sit down on Tuesday, with a core group of executives from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expected to be in attendance. The negotiations have been contentious, with one of the major points of friction being the Screen Actors Guild’s (SAG) revenue-sharing demand.
Initially, the actors had requested 2% of revenue generated by specific titles on streaming platforms, a proposal that the AMPTP outright denied. However, on October 11, SAG changed its request to a set subscriber fee for streaming services, which would be distributed among actors who appear on those platforms, at a rate of less than 57 cents.
The disagreement over revenue-sharing has been a significant obstacle in the negotiations. Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, referred to SAG’s new proposal as a bridge too far during a Bloomberg appearance, expressing his skepticism regarding its feasibility.
The strike by SAG began on July 14, nearly two months after the Writers Guild of America initiated its own strike. When the writers reached a settlement with studios on September 27, it was seen as a potential signal of progress in the SAG strike. However, the union has also been dissatisfied with the lack of compromise on their minimum wage increase demands and protections regarding artificial intelligence, as producers aim to incorporate digital doubles and face-scans into certain franchise projects.
The upcoming negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios will be crucial in determining the resolution of these contentious issues. Both sides will need to find common ground that addresses the actors’ concerns while also considering the financial implications for the industry. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching implications for the future of revenue-sharing in the streaming era and the working conditions of actors in Hollywood.
As the negotiations resume, all eyes will be on the discussions to see if any compromises can be reached. Industry experts and fans of the entertainment world are hopeful that a resolution can be found without further delays or disruptions. The future of Hollywood’s relationship with streaming platforms and the demands of actors hang in the balance, making these negotiations a critical turning point for the industry.
In conclusion, the resumption of negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios next week presents an opportunity for both parties to find common ground on contentious issues such as revenue-sharing. The outcome of these discussions will shape the future of the industry and could potentially pave the way for a fair and sustainable working environment for actors in the era of streaming platforms.
