TRIESTE, ITALY: While the SAG-AFTRA strike is stretching into its tenth day, the WGA strike has reached its eleventh week. Thousands of writers and actors are on the picketing line with the hope of better payment and dealing with the issues related to the use of AI. Till now, the strike has grabbed headlines but there was nothing noteworthy to report as far as a resolution was concerned. But, a few events that happened on Friday, July 21, may act as a ray of hope for the striking workers.
While nothing has yet been finalized, chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Tony Vinciquerra, said that for the greater good, studios wanted to negotiate so work could resume soon. During a panel discussion in Italy on Friday, July 21, Vinciquerra shared his desire to resolve the strike soon, "We want to go back to the table and resolve this issue quickly," before adding emphatically, "The offer made to SAG-AFTRA was the best we ever did put on the table."
Will Hollywood studios accede to SAG-AFTRA's demands?
As per The Hollywood Reporter, the top executive of a studio is weighing in on the possibilities of quickly resolving the discontent as he knows the situation is “difficult for everyone.” During the Audio-Visual Producers Summit in Trieste in Italy, he said, “We want to find a deal. We need to come to a deal. Even if the newspapers wrote otherwise. We want to go back to the table and resolve this issue quickly.”
He further continued, “It’s not true that we don’t want to negotiate,” before elaborating, “It’s exactly the opposite. We are sorry for the strike. We are aware of the importance of screenwriters and actors, who are key partners in the production of films and series. The problem must be solved. This situation is difficult for everyone. Even for people who are not union members, who cannot work anyway.”
Informed consent on AI usage
While SAG-AFTRA is not keen on banning the use of AI outright — some high-profile stars likely to monetize licensing their likeness right — the union is fighting for “informed consent” over AI-generated similarities. They are encouraging the studios and production houses to draw separate bargains for using AI-generated images in projects.
The union’s negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, said on July 13 that while studios did agree to “informed consent”, it serves no purpose at all. SAG-AFTRA believes that studios plan to scan the background actors and replicate their AI formed images “for the rest of eternity” without consent. The SAG-AFTRA cannot accept the proposal as it would then take away the right to meaningful consent, and subsequently employment generation for extras on films and TV shows. They would lose the opportunity to know where and how their likenesses are used and will lose the right to refuse the use of their AI-likeness on-screen.
Crabtree-Ireland opined, “That’s not real consent. That is fictional consent,” before adding, “If you want to get hired and you have to grant consent to use of your digital replica for eternity, your choice is accept the job and accept those terms, or refuse the job and you don’t get hired. That is a dilemma that is not fair for our members,” per Variety.
In a recent development, AMPTP said on Friday, July 21, that they have agreed to informed consent along with separate bargaining for AI for background actors. It is said that they have agreed to SAG-AFTRA’s demand that they “must take place at the time of use." As per Variety, Crabtree-Ireland reacted to the latest proposal by AMPTP with, “We will respond to this latest round of AMPTP spin when we have had a chance to review their document,” before adding, “We unequivocally stand by the accuracy of everything we have said regarding the proposals.”
