SAG-AFTRA Approves Deal, Reveals Major Wins in AI Fight
In the aftermath of the 118-day strike’s resolution, two dissenting voices on the 80-member SAG-AFTRA board, Shaan Sharma and Anne-Marie Johnson, articulated their opposition to the new contract. Their primary grievance? The perceived inadequacy in safeguarding actors against the encroachment of artificial intelligence (AI).
Last Wednesday saw the negotiating committee’s unanimous approval, signaling the end of the prolonged strike. Subsequently, on Friday, the national board followed suit, with an 86% weighted vote in favor, propelling the deal toward member ratification.
AI, however, stood as a formidable point of contention for Sharma and Johnson, among at least eight dissenters. Johnson, vocal in her stance, asserted, “There should be no AI. Only human beings should be used in what we create for public consumption.” She underscored the existential threat she perceived, deeming any compromise a futile expenditure of time.
Sharma, also a member of the negotiating committee, voiced concerns about “significant loopholes” in the AI language, leaving certain categories of work vulnerable to existential threats.
The Sunday-released 18-page agreement summary introduces consent and compensation guidelines for AI-generated “digital doubles.” However, it stops short of an outright AI prohibition, allowing studios leeway in training on actors’ performances to craft “synthetic” performers.
Sharma criticized the purported protections, deeming them insufficient. According to him, unless the replica unequivocally mirrors the actor, the safeguards prove ineffectual.
During a 3 1/2-hour Zoom meeting on Monday, Fran Drescher, the union president, and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the executive director, defended the AI provisions. Crabtree-Ireland acknowledged the deal’s imperfections, emphasizing the ongoing need to advocate for enhanced protections in future contracts.
He acknowledged the impossibility of staunchly blocking technological advancement, advocating instead for strategic channeling of technology’s trajectory.
AI-related inquiries from union members flooded the Zoom session, covering topics from actors’ consent requirements to the potential deterioration of the craft over time. Crabtree-Ireland conceded the uncertainty surrounding the latter, emphasizing the union’s legislative efforts in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento to shape public policy on the matter.
The Hollywood Palladium hosts another informational meeting on Thursday evening, underscoring the continued engagement with members.
In addressing dissenting voices, Drescher urged members to approach information with openness, cautioning against those exploiting momentum for personal gain. Although not explicitly named, this seemed a response to Justine Bateman, a vocal critic of the AI terms.
Bateman, a former SAG board member, emphasized her intention to raise awareness rather than attack leadership. She encouraged members to seek individual negotiations for robust AI protections if the deal is ratified.
Johnson expressed dissatisfaction not only with AI clauses but also the residual bonus in streaming. She warned of potential opacity from streaming giants like Netflix regarding viewership thresholds, advocating for a percentage of revenue instead.
The ratification vote deadline looms on Dec. 5, with Sharma predicting likely approval based on historical patterns. Failure to ratify would not automatically trigger a return to the strike; rather, it would necessitate a renegotiation without guaranteed retention of current terms, Crabtree-Ireland explained.
Noteworthy in the deal is a provision requiring studios to secure permission from a deceased actor’s estate before utilizing AI to reanimate them. If no estate exists or representatives are untraceable, SAG-AFTRA steps in.
Crabtree-Ireland extended an invitation for actors to communicate their AI wishes to the union now, pledging adherence posthumously.
Johnson, resolute in her stance, plans to draft instructions to her lawyer, asserting, “I refuse to approve any manipulation of my performance.”
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