SAG-AFTRA Says Studios Didn’t ‘Meaningfully Engage’ on ‘Critical Issues,’ Studios Call Guild ‘Disingenuous’

thewrap.com:

You can read the full SAG-AFTRA memo here, and read AMPTP’s response here.“We moved on some things,” the SAG-AFTRA memo said, “but from day one they wouldn’t meaningfully engage on the most critical issues.”Along with a summary, the memo included a comprehensive breakdown of guild proposals and the counteroffers made by AMPTP.

Among the disagreements between the two sides, according to SAG-AFTRA:A requested 11% general wage increase in the first year, and 4% in the second and third years to deal with inflation was countered with 5% in the first year, 4% in the second and 3.2% in the third, the guild says.A proposed a revenue sharing scheme on streaming services to offset residuals losses was flatly rejected by AMPTP.A proposal to make terms for background actors the same everywhere was rejected by AMPTP.A proposal to compensate background actors who also do stand-in work on the same day for both jobs, instead of paying them for one, was rejected.AMPTP agreed to provide hair and makeup specialists trained for diverse hair types and skin tones, but only for principle performers.And of course, the memo mentions the previously discussed proposal by AMPTP that studios be allowed to use AI to scan background actors and retain ownership and the right to use their likenesses in perpetuity, while paying them only once.“SAG-AFTRA continues to mischaracterize the negotiations with AMPTP,” AMPTP said in its own statement.