SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) will resume talks on Tuesday, in another effort to end the Hollywood actors’ strike, which began on July. The return to the negotiating table between both parties comes after a failed last approach on October.
“As we mark the 100th day of our strike, we are pleased to confirm the company executives have asked us to return to the table. Official negotiations will resume on Tuesday, October 24,” SAG-AFTRA’s Negotiating Committee confirmed in a statement. “It is clear that the strength and solidarity shown by our members has sent an unmistakable message to the CEOs. As we have repeatedly said, we are ready, willing and able to engage on a moment’s notice to meet and to work across the table to achieve a deal that is worthy of your sacrifice,” it added.
Representing around 160.000 Hollywood actors, SAG-AFTRA formally announced a strike after talks with major studios and streaming services failed in July of this year. Since then, actors have been taking to the streets to complain for many issues regarding their jobs, particularly pay rates, residual payments for streaming content and the use of artificial intelligence, which is consider a threat for the industry. The union also demands added protections or minimums for background actors and stunt performers, and regulations on self-taped auditions, among other topics.
On the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' side, Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, is hopeful that the upcoming conversations with SAG-AFTRA on Tuesday will lead to a suitable agreement for both parties. “I am an eternal optimist. We have been at the table and been receptive, and we are working at this as hard as we can. It has impacted a lot of people,” Sarandos told Variety.
The latest proposal from AMPTP was presented on October 11, but it was considered insufficient by the actors’ union, which caused the negotiations to be suspended. “After meaningful conversations, it is clear that the gap between the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA is too great, and conversations are no longer moving us in a productive direction,” AMPTP said in a press release back then.
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