SAG-AFTRA and Studios Postpone Talks, But Is a Deal in Sight?

The bargaining session between SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday was postponed so that the actors guild can consider the most recent studio offer. This is a hopeful sign that there may be progress in the works, but there are still some major sticking points, including streaming revenue-sharing and minimum rate increases.

Studio insiders told TheWrap that some concessions were made on Tuesday in an effort to reach a compromise, including increased offers from the AMPTP on minimum rate increases. However, the revenue-sharing plan remains a major impasse.

The AMPTP is pushing for a viewership bonus model similar to the one agreed to with the WGA, but SAG-AFTRA believes that the revenue-sharing plan is a better model to ensure increased pay for performers throughout the union’s membership for the work they do on streaming films and TV shows.

Compensation from streaming services remains a key hurdle to overcome if the guild and the studios hope to reach a deal to bring the now 105-day-long actors’ strike to an end. But SAG-AFTRA has also informed members that other issues still need to be addressed, including minimum rate increases, as the union insists that it is not beholden to terms negotiated by the DGA and WGA and is pushing for an 11% minimum increase in the first year of the contract to ensure actors’ pay keeps up with inflation.

SAG-AFTRA insiders told TheWrap before talks resumed that the two sides also hadn’t come to an agreement on health and pension plan contributions and rules regarding consent and compensation for AI-generated replicas of performers.

So, while it’s encouraging that the two sides are still talking, it’s clear that there is still a lot of work to be done before a deal can be reached. But the fact that SAG-AFTRA is taking the time to consider the latest studio offer suggests that they may be willing to compromise on some of their demands. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!

• Scoops alert! We hear that AMPTP execs are starting to sweat as the SAG-AFTRA strike drags on. After all, no actors means no movies, and no movies means no money.
• Word on the street is that SAG-AFTRA is willing to bend on the revenue-sharing plan, but only if the studios meet their demands for minimum rate increases. Could this be the key to breaking the impasse?
• We’re also hearing that there’s some serious drama going on behind the scenes, with both sides accusing the other of bad faith bargaining. Could this be a sign that we’re headed for a long, protracted strike?
• Only time will tell what the future holds for SAG-AFTRA and the studios, but one thing is for sure: this strike is having a major impact on Hollywood. Stay tuned for more updates!