Actors Strike Continues

Negotiations between major Hollywood studios and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have hit a roadblock, with both sides stating they cannot find a middle ground on significant issues. The actors union has been on strike since July, with disputes revolving around compensation and the use of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said it had offered wage increases—the average actor's salary is about $69K—and proposed further protections around the use of AI. However, they said the latest proposal from the actors included a revenue share from streaming shows that could cost the studios an additional $800M annually. SAG-AFTRA argued the AMPTP estimate was exaggerated by 60%. The strike has left more than 160,000 industry professionals unemployed and has so far caused an estimated $5B in losses to California’s economy.

The news follows the recent resolution of a 148-day strike by the Writers Guild of America, which secured better royalty payments for streaming content and a 5% minimum pay increase, with additional bumps in 2024 and 2025.