Dec. 12, 2023

Hollywood Actors Return to Work - What They Received in Their New Contract

On November 8th following 118 days of strike, Hollywood actors and studios finally arrived at a tentative agreement. The deal was stated to give SAG-AFTRA “the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union.” We uncover the details of what the new contract is about. By: Dylan Low

The new contract will involve multiple factors of actor’s jobs, with higher wages set to be involved, alongside new streaming bonuses coupled with restrictions on self-tapes.

Actors will receive a raise in basic wage minimums for a series of projects involving both film and television. For actors with speaking roles, minimums will be raised by 7% from November 9th onwards, with another 4% in effect from July 2024 and another 3.5% added effective from July 2025. Background actors will also be credited, obtaining an increase of 11% on November 9th and the same increases as others proceeding onwards.

Benefits of New Strike Deal

Actors will also get better streaming residual income and bonuses for popular mainstream shows and movies, awarded if they are viewed by 20% or higher of a streaming service’s domestic subscribers in their first 90 days after screening or in the first 90 days of any year after the first year of release.

Bonuses will make up the same amount as an actor’s residual income, but only 75% will be given to the actor directly. The other 25% will be transferred to a shared foundation managed by representatives from both the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA, who distributes it to actors in other streaming shows. The goal of this measure is to “spread the wealth”, claimed entertainment expert Jonathan Handel.

SAG-AFTRA also received beneficial developments in their pensions and new restrictions surrounding online auditions, which could be high-priced and time-consuming compared to past auditions. Performers are to be given audition material at least 48 hours beforehand, having to follow new regulations about memorizing text and may not be requested to use paid delivery sites, amongst other criteria.

“I was really glad to see the limitations on self-tapes,” commented Everything Everywhere All at Once actor Tallie Med. Previously, they made use of a paid Vimeo account to submit their tapes for auditions, which can charge up to $108 monthly in present times.

Protection from AI

One prominent barrier during negotiations was the expansion of modern technology such as artificial intelligence (AI). The new contract offers security in situations where such technology is involved. 

This includes consent and compensation surrounding digital replications produced while an actor’s working on a specified project; consent and compensation around digital copies made outside the scope of a project; and digital modifications to an actor’s performance.

From a labour viewpoint, the extent of protection proves to be “quite an accomplishment,” mentioned Handel, although some actors lament that the efforts have not been sufficient.

Aftermath of Tentative Agreement

Many actors are still reading through the terms of their newfound agreement, however with excitement for the various benefits they have received, the uncertainties of the last three months still persist.

“I’m bitter that it was assumed that the unions would fold as though we’re not used to having to hustle every day,” quoted Medel, talking about reports of studios hoping to extend the strikes until artists ran out of money for everyday needs. For them, that is connected to a larger scale issue of employee treatment all over the U.S.

“It’s the larger greed that has been heartbreaking,” the SAG-AFTRA mentioned.

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