# Talks Break Off Between Hollywood Actors and Studios Amidst Ongoing Strike
Late Wednesday, contract negotiations between Hollywood actors and studios came to a bitter halt, dashing hopes of a quick resolution to the three-month-long performers’ strike. Citing an insurmountable gap between the two sides, the studios announced the suspension of negotiations despite presenting an offer that they claimed was on par with the deal that ended the recent writers’ strike. The actors union expressed frustration over their opponents’ strong-arm tactics and accused them of distorting their proposals.
“We have made significant concessions to meet their demands, only to have them ignored or dismissed,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the national executive director and chief negotiator for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), speaking to The Associated Press on a picket line in Los Angeles on Thursday. “We cannot find a solution if they refuse to engage in dialogue with us.”
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios and production companies, resumed on October 2 after a hiatus since the strike began in mid-July. However, unlike the swift resolution reached with writers, progress has been slow with the actors union.
The studios walked away from the table after reviewing the actors’ latest proposal on Wednesday. In a statement, the AMPTP declared that the gap between the two parties was too significant, and further discussions were unproductive. According to the statement, the SAG-AFTRA proposal would cost companies an additional $800 million annually, imposing an overwhelming financial burden.
In a letter to union members sent out early Thursday, SAG-AFTRA refuted the cost estimation, claiming it was inflated by 60%. “We entered those negotiations with an open mind, seeking to establish a meaningful dialogue with the CEOs who hold the decision-making power,” Crabtree-Ireland explained. “We submitted a comprehensive set of counterproposals, making significant changes to our earlier proposals based on their input. At their insistence, we even removed revenue sharing from the streaming proposal.”
Despite negotiating in good faith, the union expressed profound disappointment in the studios’ decision to break off talks. “They presented an offer last week that was astonishingly lower than what was proposed before the strike,” the letter read.
Among the key issues causing the strike are streaming-related pay increases and actors’ control over AI-generated use of their images. The AMPTP maintained that their offers were as generous as those that resolved the writers’ strike and secured a new contract with the directors guild earlier this year. However, the actors union accused the companies of refusing to protect performers from being replaced by AI, failing to provide adequate wage increases to keep up with inflation, and withholding a fair share of the profits generated by actors’ work.
“There is a clear pattern of deceptive communication by the studios,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “This is not how you negotiate with respect; it’s a bullying tactic.”
Actors and writers gathered outside Netflix offices to picket in solidarity on Thursday. Negotiating committee members and Crabtree-Ireland addressed the crowd, offering words of encouragement and resilience. “We stand united,” said long-time union member Cisco Reyes outside Netflix. “Our negotiators will not settle for less.”
Despite the setback, individuals on the picket lines remain hopeful of a future agreement with the AMPTP. “There is anger and frustration, but there is also a strong sense of hope,” said actor Romel De Silva, a union member since 2012, outside Paramount Studios on Thursday. “We must continue to show our resolve by being present here every single day.”
Unlike the marathon negotiations held during the writers’ strike, the talks between actors and studios lacked the same momentum from the start. Negotiations were sporadic, and both sides took several breaks, with no significant progress reported. Unlike the writers’ strike, the actors union did not enjoy the direct involvement of high-level studio executives, such as Disney and Netflix heads.
The writers’ negotiations also had a false start before reaching a successful conclusion. A month prior to the productive talks, the initial attempt to resume negotiations failed after a few days. However, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) members overwhelmingly ratified their new contract on Monday. WGA leaders hailed the deal as an achievement, satisfying most of their demands from the strike that began almost five months earlier. The strike officially ended on September 26, allowing writers to return to work.
In a show of solidarity, some WGA members rallied with actors on the picket lines, including Tommy Pico, a member since 2020 who recalled the support from actors during the writers’ strike. Pico argued that the AMPTP could bring the strike to an immediate end. “They have the means and the opportunity to resolve this, yet they choose not to,” Pico said. “It feels like a power play.”
Late-night talk shows have resumed airing, and other programs like “Saturday Night Live” are set to follow suit. However, production on scripted shows and movies remains indefinitely on hold due to the absence of actors.
Crabtree-Ireland stressed the importance of dialogue to resolve the conflict. “We are ready and willing to talk. All they need to do is come back to the table,” he urged.
Associated Press journalist Leslie Ambriz contributed reporting.
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