On Saturday, Hollywood studios and major streamers presented what they claim to be their final proposal to end the 114-day actors’ strike to SAG-AFTRA leadership. The offer includes an enhanced residual bonus for high-performing streaming shows, doubling standard streaming residuals for actors on the most-watched shows on each platform. This surpasses the deal provided to the Writers Guild of America, which secured a 50% residual bonus for writers on top-performing shows.
Additionally, the package offers comprehensive protections on artificial intelligence and the highest increase in minimums in 40 years. The meeting, held over Zoom, included leaders from seven studios: Bob Iger of Disney, David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, Donna Langley of NBCUniversal, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, Brian Robbins of Paramount, Mike Hopkins and Jen Salke from Amazon, and Tony Vinciquerra from Sony.
Sarandos emphasized to union leaders that the offer was generous, stating, “We didn’t just come toward you. We came all the way to you.” SAG-AFTRA leaders advised they would need more time to analyze and respond to the offer. The union stressed that many of the issues on the table are crucial for actors’ livelihoods.
The studios labeled this their “last, best and final” offer, signaling that they are not inclined to make further concessions. Despite ongoing negotiations over the past 12 days, there is still uncertainty about whether a deal can be reached this weekend.
Artificial intelligence remains a challenging issue to resolve, particularly concerning protections against the creation of “digital doubles.” The union has expressed concerns, especially for background actors fearing they may be replaced by digital versions of themselves.
Studios have urged for a swift resolution, warning that without a deal in the near term, TV shows may be canceled and theatrical releases further delayed due to production schedules.
Despite widespread optimism that the strike is nearing its end, it has continued well beyond initial expectations. SAG-AFTRA reminded members of the picketing schedule for the coming week, noting that there would be no picketing on Friday due to Veterans Day, and that collectible strike buttons were available at each of the studio lots.
