The union representing Hollywood actors announced on Thursday that the discussions with studios to avert a major industry shutdown had failed to produce an agreement, paving the way for a vote on the first actors strike in over four decades.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), which represents 160,000 artists, including Hollywood celebrities, claimed that negotiations had failed to satisfy their demands regarding compensation and the threat posed by artificial intelligence.
The union's negotiators unanimously proposed a strike to its national committee, which was reportedly expected to vote on whether to take industrial action, according to a statement.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said in a statement, “We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations. This is the Union's choice, not ours.”
SAG-AFTRA represents A-list celebrities like Meryl Streep, often described as "the best actress of her generation", Jennifer Lawrence, who is known for starring in both action film franchises and independent dramas, and Glenn Close. Reportedly, all members have pre-approved strike action if an agreement is not reached.
A strike would immediately restrict stars from promoting some of the year's biggest movies, right at the height of the summer blockbuster season in the film business.
Earlier in the day, unions representing directors, film workers, and writers in Hollywood published a declaration of "unwavering support and solidarity" with the actors. They said in a joint statement, "While the studios have a collective worth of trillions of dollars, billions of viewers globally, and sky-high profits, this fight is not about actors against the studios.”
The union reportedly said it would stand together "to prevent mega-corporations” from the industry. Actors have reportedly demanded better wages and protections against the use of AI in dramas and films.
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