SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood studios reach deal ending actors strike

CHICAGO - After 118 days on the picket line, the lights in Tinseltown are turning on and actors across the nation are returning to work. On Wednesday evening, SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative deal with Hollywood studios after a series of artificial intelligence (A.I.) clauses hindered progress earlier in the week.

"This is a contract that’s probably as important as any we’ve ever had," said Eric Chaudron, executive director, Chicago SAG-AFTRA.

As members of SAG-AFTRA’s Chicago chapter came together to make one final push at Federal Plaza, Hollywood executives and union negotiators were hammering out the details of a new three-year deal.

"What’s set here in the U.S. will often define labor contracts on a global scale as well,"  said Miranda Banks, Chair of Film, Television & Media Studies, Loyola Marymount University.

The latest sticking point, Banks explained, was the so-called ‘Zombie Clause’ – something the actors’ union was quick to reject.

It was outlined in what Hollywood executives called their "last, best and final offer." It would have allowed studios to scan actors and potentially recreate their image and voice without their consent – even after they’ve died.

"In the case of many stars, we’ve actually seen these kind of clauses go forward and these kinds of uses come up, but where this is going to be particularly significant is for journeyman actors, actors of every stripe," said Banks. "Not just for the A-listers who may have very clear understandings of their use for their rights, their voice, their name in perpetuity, but for all actors to have those kinds of rights clear and clarified for them."

Chicago actors, comedians and performers say losing rights over their image and likeness would be incredibly damaging.

"We want to revolutionize this industry and make it arts for art’s sake," said Melissa DuPrey, actor, writer and comedian. "So if we’re saying that we can just release our image without getting paid, that really is detrimental to our entire livelihood."

"This is more important than just you’re A-list stars," said Wendy Mateo, actor, director, filmmaker. "It affects so many of us that are living paycheck to paycheck just like anybody else."
Now, as an agreement is reached, there is hope that those rights will remain protected.

"It’s one of the most important things we are going to do, more than the economics or anything else, people’s ability to control their likeness and what they put out into the world is essential – not just to actors, but as human beings," said Chaudron.

The strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, and the contract will go before the national board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) on Friday.

The terms of the agreement were not immediately released. SAG-AFTRA said details will be made public later this week.

Approaching nearly four months, this was film and television actors’ longest strike in history.