SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP Inch Closer to Agreement as Talks Continue Amid Protests

Progress made in key concerns such as use of AI and streaming pay, but sources suggest final agreement, if accomplished, will likely be reached in a matter of days, not weeks.

• Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are progressing, with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) remaining a key issue. The union seeks to limit the use of AI in recreating actors' likenesses and performances.
• While the entertainment companies see a clear path to a tentative resolution, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, emphasized that disagreements over AI and other issues still remained.
• Members of SAG-AFTRA's negotiating team and other entertainment unions showed solidarity at a 'Unity Picket' at Disney Studios in Burbank, marking the 111th day of the ongoing work stoppage that has brought much of the entertainment industry to a standstill.
• Despite some progress being made on the streaming residuals issue, it remains unresolved. The guild pushes for a per-subscriber compensation model, while entertainment companies favor a success-based payment system.
• Several A-list actors, including George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, and Ben Affleck, suggested lifting the current $1-million limit on membership dues so wealthier performers could contribute more and help ease the financial burden on working actors.

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