Hollywood Actors Guild Vote to Authorize Strike Amid Ongoing Writers Strike

<div class="block">Hollywood&#39;s actor&#39;s guild, the SAG-AFTRA union, could be heading to the picket lines if a new deal isn&#39;t struck with major production studios. In similar fashion to Hollywood writers, nearly 98 percent of the union&#39;s 160,000 members voted to strike over better pay and assurances that artificial intelligence wouldn&#39;t impact their livelihoods. </div>

Closing Bell

Well, over a month after the Writers Guild of America went on strike. Sag after which represents about 160,000 actors voted to authorize similar actions and its contracts will be up on June 30. So for more, we're bringing in Chet news, senior reporter Michelle Castillo Michelle, it's good to see you. And what is the latest on the S A A negotiations? Well, yesterday, Kristen Sag A announced that its members overwhelmingly authorized a strike if it cannot come to a compromise over a new contract with the alliance of motion picture and television producers. Now this motion was approved with about 98% of voters saying yes and a little under half of eligible members voting in a statement, a President Fran Dr said she was proud of everyone who showed support for the strike. Dr said quote, together we lock elbows and in unity, we build a new contract that honors our contributions in this remarkable industry, reflects the new digital and streaming business model and brings all of our concerns and protections and benefits into the. Now, in addition to questions over changing economic times, streaming residuals which are payments made when people ream episodes to actors and self taped auditions has also voiced concerns over the growth of A I national executive and chief negotiator Duncan Crary Ireland called this negotiation potentially the most consequential negotiation in the union's history in a statement. And the talks between S A and the alliance of motion picture and television Producers Association is only set to begin really tomorrow. So the contracts as you pointed out are going to expire on June 30th. So we're a little under a month away from a potential actors strike, but it has been authorized and with the writers strike in full force and many productions already being halted, you can see why the film and TV industry is really concerned at this time. Yeah, I've been talking to people Michelle of course, in the industry and they are still on the sidelines as we wait to see how this shakes out. But you mentioned A I, why is artificial intelligence a concern here? So now executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crab Ireland said in a statement that quote dwindling residuals due to streaming and generative A I all threaten actors ability to earn a livelihood. He elaborated on this further in a guest column for variety. He wrote as film executives look to cut costs, technology especially generative A I is threatening how actors make a living. He also pointed out that A I is evolving at such a rapid pace and there's potential for misuse. So, so this includes things like using someone's image likeness and voice, which can already easily be replicated by A I. And sometimes this often happens without a person's consent. S A also wants to work with lawmakers to create rules and copyright protections for humans, which is something we've never even considered before. There's also concerns about labor laws to train A I systems because that uses actors time, right? You don't want a I to, to write a story or a script either. I mean, it's just so crucial here. Any updates Michelle on the writers' strike and what it means for production. Well, the writers strike shows no signs of ending any time spoon. So when I spoke to a W G A council person, the union was fully expecting that its negotiations wouldn't restart until the contracts with the Directors Guild of America and S A were signed. So we do know that the D G A signed their contract this week. And as we mentioned, S A A is going to begin its talks tomorrow. So that timeline, the W G A was thinking about seems to be playing out S A members though have been showing support for W G A members who have been on strike since May 2nd. And many of them have joined the picket lines as well. And during this year's outfront networks and streamers chose not to bring out actors due to concerns about crossing the line and it now seems like the entire industry could be put on pause if both writers and actors sit out. And that means that a lot of your favorite shows may be halted or at least delayed for the time being.