Some of Canadians’ favorite Hollywood actors will officially be joining the picket line, taking a break from the big screen. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has decided to go on strike, aligning with the Hollywood writers’ union. The decision is largely motivated by the actors’ demand for compensation that keeps up with inflation, both upfront and through residuals or royalties from reruns or reuse of their work. They are specifically concerned about fair compensation for successful shows on streaming services like Netflix or Prime Video. Currently, actors are being paid a lump-sum for their work on streaming services, and they want longer relationships with their content and more transparency in how streaming services measure success.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is also a key issue in the strike. Studios are exploring ways to replicate actors’ voices and faces using AI, which has raised concerns about authenticity and compensation. Some actors are okay with studios reproducing their likeness with AI as long as they are compensated, while others oppose the use of AI for authenticity purposes.
With actors and writers on strike, audiences may expect slightly different content for the time being, with an emphasis on reality television and sports. There is also an opportunity for foreign content to gain traction, as some companies have proven successful in making Americans watch shows like “Squid Game.” However, foreign content is not expected to dominate screens but could be promoted more heavily.
The actors’ guild has announced that negotiations with the studios have failed to reach a deal, leading to the strike. The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since early May, affecting production in film and television series. The combined actors’ and writers’ strike benefits studios financially since they are not spending money on production.