Hollywood: The end of the actors’ strike and the resumption of filming in sight
Good news for the world of cinema! After 118 days of strike, Hollywood actors have reached an agreement in principle with the major studios. This agreement puts an end to the paralysis that has cost the American economy billions of dollars. The actors’ union Sag-Aftra announced that the strike will officially end on Thursday, November 9 at 12:01 a.m. Los Angeles time.
This strike was motivated by the actors’ demand for better remuneration in an industry undergoing rapid transformation due to the rise of streaming and the use of artificial intelligence. Although the details of the agreement have not yet been revealed, actors, dancers and stuntmen members of Sag-Aftra are expected to validate their new collective agreement through a vote, a step that should be a formality.
Negotiations between actors and studios have been intense in recent weeks, with the presence of CEOs of major studios such as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. and Universal. The resumption of filming is eagerly awaited, particularly after the postponement of major productions such as the second part of the “Dune” saga or the hit series “Stranger Things”.
This strike was marked by its historic character, since the screenwriters had already stopped work since the beginning of May. This is an unprecedented crisis for Hollywood since the 1960s, with losses estimated at at least $6 billion according to economists.
The main challenge for the actors was to be able to continue to earn a decent living in a context where remuneration is strongly affected by streaming. With fewer episodes per season and a drop in revenue from reruns, the cast felt shortchanged. Additionally, the issue of artificial intelligence was also a point of contention, particularly regarding the use of their voice and image without their consent.
This agreement brings an increase in the minimum salary, estimated at around 8% compared to the previous three-year agreement, as well as the establishment of a bonus system for actors playing in successful series or films. As for the supervision of artificial intelligence, measures have been taken to protect actors against any abusive use of their voice and image.
The end of this strike relieves the entire cinema sector and allows Hollywood to fully resume its activities. The actors will finally be able to return to filming and continue to make us dream on the big screen.