SAG-AFTRA has voted to go on strike, the first since 1980. The strike will begin tonight at midnight, and will affect films and scripted TV shows that employ SAG-AFTRA members around the world.
The strike comes after months of negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down. SAG-AFTRA is seeking higher pay, better residuals, and protections for actors' digital likenesses. The AMPTP has offered some concessions, but SAG-AFTRA says they are not enough.
The strike is expected to have a significant impact on the film and TV industry. It could delay or cancel productions, and could also lead to job losses.
Here are some of the key issues that led to the strike:
- Economic fairness: SAG-AFTRA is seeking higher pay for actors, especially those who are working on streaming platforms.
- Residuals: SAG-AFTRA wants to ensure that actors are paid residuals for their work on streaming platforms.
- Artificial intelligence: SAG-AFTRA is seeking protections for actors' digital likenesses, as AI technology becomes more sophisticated.
- Self-taping: SAG-AFTRA is seeking to alleviate the burdens of the industry-wide shift to self-taping, which has made it more difficult for actors to get work.
The strike is expected to last until a new contract is reached. It is unclear how long that will take, but it could have a significant impact on the film and TV industry in the meantime.
