SAG-AFTRA and the studios will not reach a deal tonight, following a day of negotiations and grappling with several stubborn issues, including AI protections. Another session is now scheduled for Wednesday. The 118-day-old strike will not be ending before Warner Bros Discovery and Disney release their quarterly earnings results. Both sides are hopeful, but still have hurdles to overcome, particularly when it comes to AI and compensation issues.
The lack of a tentative agreement means the strike may continue, and the studios are facing backlash from actors and below-the-line communities. However, guild unity remains strong, as evidenced by well-attended pickets on both coasts.
As the town waits for an agreement, SAG-AFTRA has scheduled pickets in Los Angeles and New York City on Wednesday. The lead negotiators for SAG-AFTRA and the studios are scheduled to meet later today in what could be the final phase to sealing a new deal and the end to the 117-day actors guild strike. Both sides believe they are very close to reaching an agreement, particularly on the contentious topic of AI, which has been a sticking point throughout the negotiations.
While the industry waits for an agreement, Hollywood is eager to resume production of movies and TV series, to get a 2024 feature slate and TV schedule back on track. Pickets were up and SAG-AFTRA members and their allies were out on the streets of NYC and LA today.
The studios are hopeful that an agreement will be reached, as are many actors in the ranks. Despite remaining hurdles, there is optimism that a historic deal is in front of the actors, though there is still work to be done. The parties face challenges when it comes to AI rights and streaming revenue residuals, but both sides are working to come to an agreement.
