Lights, camera, action! Negotiations for a new film and TV contract have officially begun between SAG-AFTRA and the studios. The talks, which started on Wednesday morning, come just two days after the guild’s members voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike if a satisfactory deal isn’t reached by the end of the month. The negotiations are being held under a media blackout, but we do know that they come on the heels of the Directors Guild’s national board unanimously approving their own new contract with the AMPTP, and on the 37th day of the Writers Guild strike.
In a joint statement, both sides agreed not to comment to the media about the negotiations during the process. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland issued a joint statement on Tuesday, calling the strike-authorization vote “astounding.” They said, “As we enter these negotiations, in good faith and with the intention of securing a strong deal for our members, this vote is a powerful signal to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that we’re ready for any eventuality.”
The guild has laid out some of its key bargaining issues, including economic fairness, residuals, regulating the use of artificial intelligence, and alleviating the burdens of the industry-wide shift to self-taping. SAG-AFTRA is committed to ensuring their members can make a living as performers and are protected from the misuse of evolving technologies. They’ve spent months preparing their initial proposals, which reflect both the needs of professional performers and the future of the industry.
The guild’s strength lies in their solidarity, and they look forward to a future where this spirit of unity among creative professionals continues, not just throughout the negotiation process but in the years ahead. The stakes have never been higher, and SAG-AFTRA is ready to fight for their members’ rights. Let’s hope the negotiations result in a deal that benefits everyone involved.
