United States of America

[US] Hollywood strike: actors reach agreement

IRIS 2023-10:1/6

Justine Radel-Cormann

European Audiovisual Observatory

Following the recent massive strikes in Holywood, screenwriters and producers reached a tentative agreement on 24 September 2023 (see IRIS 2023-9:1/5), while the actors strike went on for additional weeks until very recently in November 2023.

A tentative agreement to amend the 2020 Codified Basic Agreement between SAG-AFTRA (actors) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers was reached on 10 November 2023. The amendments cover areas such as:

- Meaningful protections around the use of artificial intelligence, including informed consent and compensation for the creation and use of digital replicas of SAG-AFTRA members, living and deceased, whether created on set or licensed for use ;

- Wage pattern increases: 7% increase upon ratification, 4% increase effective July 2024, and 3.5% effective 1 July 2025;

- Wages for background actors will increase by 11% from 12 November 2023, and then by an additional 4% from 1 July 2024 and by another 3.5% from 1 July 2025 ;

- New compensation stream for performers working in streaming.

An online vote will be conducted to ratify the tentative agreement. SAG AFTRA members' ratification votes can be received by the voting deadline of 5 December 2023.

The current agreements remain in effect during the ratification process, except for wages increases (in effect during the ratification period). The new agreement should apply until 30 June 2026, and is retroactive upon ratification.