SAG-AFTRA Continues Strike as Studios Push AI for Actors’ Likenesses

Nearly four months into the protest, the actors' union and Hollywood has yet to come to an agreement on "several essential items" as studios demand ownership over actor's likenesses in perpetuity.

Discussions between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Program (AMPTP) have broken down again over the use of artificial intelligence.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, SAG-AFTRA refused AMPTP's "last, best and final" offer insisted to them. The offer includes success bonus for streaming shows, increases in minimum rates, and protection from AI applications.

SAG-AFTRA expressed desire for studios to require the actor's consent and pay them every time they use their likeness.

Why Are Studios Pushing AI to Actors?

Studios continue to insist the use of AI in films and televisions in a bid to secure access in replicating the actors' likenesses even without permission to minimize expenses, even including Schedule F performers and deceased actors.

Schedule F performers include actors that make more than the minimum earning for series regulars and feature films.
The union also rejected the offers, saying that background and low-earning actors would "be f-ked if we took this deal with that in there."

The Labor Strike So Far

Actors in the United States continue to go on a labor strike 117 days since the union announced its protest in July. SAG-AFTRA's decision followed after the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) also went to strike against Hollywood.

The WGA recently ended their strike after receiving a favorable offer against the use of generative AI in content creation and higher employee compensations.

On the other hand, SAG-AFTRA vowed to continue its picket lines in New York and Los Angeles through Thursday, taking a day off in Friday for Veterans Day.