UPDATE 9:17PM: SAG-AFTRA‘s TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee informed members tonight that they’re ready a response from studios on their AI counter in addition to their “comprehensive counter” they put forth to the AMPTP 5 days in the past.
As Deadline advised you earlier, at present was one among non-talks, nevertheless, sources consider that the studios are reviewing all of the AI intel the guilds put earlier than them.
“The Negotiating Committee was on standby today awaiting a response from the AMPTP on both the AI counter we presented yesterday, and the comprehensive counter proposal we passed across the table five days ago,” learn an announcement from the TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee.
“Our team looks forward to continuing bargaining with the companies tomorrow,” ended the assertion.
Tomorrow will mark the 113th day of the actors’ strike. Many wouldn’t be shocked ought to talks lengthen into the weekend. We are advised that studio CEOs are on standby ought to they must be current or zoom in for any discussions.
PREVIOUS EXCLUSIVE: It was all quiet on the SAG-AFTRA negotiations entrance Thursday.
After a frenzy of rumors the previous few days {that a} deal is all however achieved between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP, at present was “more of a waiting game,” in accordance with an insider. Following Wednesday’s high-level forwards and backwards on AI protections and extra, the studios had been fairly silent this 112th day of the actors strike.
Although it was anticipated the 2 sides would discuss at present, the AMPTP has not responded to the revised AI proposal the guild despatched over Wednesday. It additionally has not responded to the self-described “comprehensive counter” put forth by SAG-AFTRA on October 28, we hear. Therefore, no formal talks occurred at present between guild chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and AMPTP president Carol Lombardini.
Still, per week and a half into this newest spherical of renewed deliberations, sources on either side stay optimistic and warn about studying an excessive amount of into at present’s non-talks. “I would be worried if they got back to us in a couple of hours, then I’d think they weren’t taking [the proposals] seriously,” a guild supply advised Deadline. “This is how it should work if we want to get to a good and fair deal.”
No phrase if any additional talks have been set, although the expectation is the AMPTP will response “soon-ish,” as an business vet stated, which is able to decide the calendar.
On one other monitor, whereas nothing is closing but it appears either side might have reached “a comfortable place,” in accordance with a studio supply, in terms of a streaming monetary income share for performers, although particulars stay scarce.
As has develop into widespread because the events restart talks October 24 in-person and just about, neither SAG-AFTRA nor the AMPTP responded to requests for remark from Deadline at present. If and once they do, we’ll replace this submit.
SAG-AFTRA
On the streets, the picket line was down at present at Fox and continued to be suspended at Universal, however guild members had been marching at Netflix, Sony, Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros Discovery and Amazon. Crabtree-Ireland confirmed up on the Culver City headquarters of Amazon mid-morning to stroll the road for a bit.
With the WGA occurring strike in early May and SAG-AFTRA taking to the pickets in mid-July, it’s estimated the labor actions have price the California financial system greater than $6.5 billion to this point in addition to 45,000 entertainment-sector jobs, with many working households not seeing a gradual paycheck in six months.
Earlier at present, Paramount Global CFO Naveen Chopra stated through the firm’s earnings name that the strikes’ monetary influence on the corporate quantities to “nearly $60 million of strike-related idle costs. These are incremental expenses incurred to retain production capabilities while the strike is ongoing. These costs impacted both our TV media and film entertainment segments.”
On the identical name Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish additional expounded on the strikes’ influence on the corporate, including, “you saw that we recently made some changes to our film slate which has been impacted by the continued SAG-AFTRA strike. And while late-night is back up and running, the scripted side of TV is still strike impacted.”
“Obviously, we all hope to be back at work soon,” he stated.
Athough steadily briefed, the Paramount Global boss has not been straight concerned within the negotiations this previous week.
Participating final week, the core CEO Gang of Four – NBCUniversal’s Donna Langley, Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and Disney’s Bob Iger – haven’t been part of talks in latest days, with Crabtree-Ireland and Lombardini taking level. It stays to be seen whether or not the CEOs will return to talks at any juncture going ahead, as they’re being briefed by their authorized groups who’re taking lead. However, Langley, Zaslav, Sarandos and Iger stay on standby for any last-minute Zooms and meet-ups, we’re advised.
Studios are anxiousness ridden, craving to jumpstart function and TV manufacturing particularly on these films that had been shutdown mid-way by way of taking pictures, i.e., Deadpool 3, Mission: Impossible 8 and Gladiator 2 amongst others. While there are solely so many taking pictures days available within the remaining holiday-filled two months of 2023, there’s work that may be completed that can guarantee some tentpoles make their 2024 theatrical launch dates. Already, on no matter footage filmmakers have their palms on, they’re within the reducing room, modifying, preparing earlier than IATSE talks start subsequent 12 months.
One factor is for sure, all sides inform us: the progress made by scribes and actors of their dealmaking will set the ground for IATSE and Teamsters talks subsequent 12 months.
Both IATSE and the Teamsters have been frequent and vocal supporters of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, stressing union solidarity. And from the guilds to the studios and streamers and people, everyone is apprehensive about what AI might imply to them and the business
Crabtree-Ireland advised Deadline at New York Comic-Con final month that in terms of AI, “the kinds of guardrails we’re looking to put around this technology aren’t dependent upon the development of the technology.” He added of SAG-AFTRA’s objectives, “The idea of a performer having the right to informed consent of the use of their image and likeness in the creation of a digital replica — any and every performer should have that right in any form of technology including AI and AI tools that have been developed for that purpose.”
“So, I think the guardrails we’re putting around fair compensation, informed consent, those are things that can grow with the industry and the state of technology,” Crabtree-Ireland stated.
As a lot as prime expertise shall be protected, key for SAG-AFTRA has been guaranteeing that extras and performers on the backside of the decision sheet have AI rights as properly in contracts with the studios. One particular demand the guild has come again to many times is that its members’ likeness received’t be duplicated an infinite quantity of instances with out due compensation. At current, the essential notion the guild has put ahead is that AI shall be used and paid on a project-by-project foundation to stop abuse and keep performing as a viable occupation for the overwhelming majority of SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000 members.
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