SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are planning on talking more after not managing to reach a fair deal.
After a long day of negotiations Tuesday, the sides are still grappling with several issues including AI protections. After going over the topic repeatedly and consulting with lawyers and others throughout the evening, the guild negotiating committee and the studios have now penciled in another session for Wednesday.
Led by SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and AMPTP president Carol Lombardini, the parties spent hours speaking on and off, both on the guts of a deal and the process of getting the bones of a tentative agreement on paper. Studio CEOs did not Zoom in as they have on past occasions.
“Following a meeting Monday night with the AMPTP, the TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee spent 10 hours deliberating today,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement sent out to members. “We will continue on Wednesday. We appreciate your patience and support while we finish our work.”
The lack of a tentative agreement means that the soon-to-be 118-day-old strike will not be over before both Warner Bros Discovery and Disney release their quarterly earnings results Wednesday – an event horizon many incorrectly assumed the labor action would not cross.
According to sources on both sides of the bargaining table, the reason behind the blame is AI.
Facing a technology that is clearly evolving in leaps and bounds, the guild wants to see “sturdy guardrails,” as a SAG-AFTRA source termed it, that will protect its 160,000 members both in terms of compensation and rights to their likeness.
While the gap between what the AMPTP is now offering and what the guild is seeking has significantly narrowed in the past 36 hours, they are “close but not there yet,” according to the source.
Several sources stated that guild president Fran Drescher was pinged by A-list stars asking about whether a deal was nigh. The guild leaders too were hopeful that Tuesday was all about Lombardini and Crabtree-Ireland hammering out the details and fine print.
“A lot of red tape,” summed up one studio insider about the deal that the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee and guild and studio lawyers were picking through.
Another creative close to talks sums up, “lots of back channels today.” Studio sources trumpet the “majorly historic” deal that’s in front of the actors while exclaiming that many actors in the ranks are upset with the ongoing strike, in addition to many below-the-line communities. On the flip of that, as well-attended pickets on both coasts attest today, guild unity remains strong.
For some, sources say this may be a matter of the right personalities. Given Lombardini’s tough demeanor in talks, some wondered whether she was the person to close the deal with former prosecutor Crabtree-Ireland.
An argument was being made Tuesday in some studio and guild circles that smooth operator Bob Iger should come in to nail the deal down. However, another insider assured, “No, she’s the one.”
As the town waits for Lombardini and Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA has pickets scheduled in Los Angeles and New York City on Wednesday.
The City of Angels has a self-described post-apocalyptic theme gathering outside Netflix and a Fightin’ Irish picket outside Warner Bros.
As Hollywood waits with baited breath, it is primed to resume production of movies and TV series around the globe, to get a 2024 feature slate and TV schedule back on track.
While there were gripes from studio executives last night after the guild’s response to the studio’s “last, best, and final offer,” it turns out that both sides were closer than anticipated as they went over contract terms into the night.
One exec was up in arms over the guild’s ask to have actors’ approval of their digital selves, and the union’s OK on every use of AI in addition to a digital performer.
“Not how movies are made!” However, we’ll see how both sides come to terms when the dust finally settles on AI rights and streaming revenue residuals.
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