Uncertainty hangs over the possibility of a double union action by actors in the United States, which could begin this weekend and bring almost all film and television production to a halt, according to AFP and France24, Agerpres reports.

Actors are demanding better wages to combat inflation and damage to the profession, as well as safeguards against potential upheavals associated with the use of artificial intelligence.

The deadline set for negotiations between the heads of major studios, streaming platforms and the actors’ union (SAG-AFTRA) is midnight Friday in Los Angeles. And the organization’s 160,000 members have almost unanimously approved a strike if no agreement is reached on a new collective agreement.

Like screenwriters, who have already been on strike since early May, the actors are demanding better wages to combat inflation and damage to the profession, as well as safeguards against possible upheavals related to the use of artificial intelligence.

Ronald Reagan led the last big Hollywood coup

The dual social movement, which unites actors and screenwriters, will be the first in Hollywood since 1960.

Ronald Reagan then led a large-scale strike that led to major concessions from the studios and solidified the political status of the actor who later became President of the United States.

Already badly hit by the writers’ strike, Hollywood will come to a complete standstill: actors may freeze not only production on scripts that are already ready by May, but also the promotion of blockbusters that will hit screens this summer: Chin, Oppenheimer, Gran Turismo.

Only select talk shows and reality shows are likely to continue. And some big events, such as the Emmys, which honor television productions in September, could be in jeopardy.

Streaming platforms, in the collimator of actors

“People who aren’t in the industry, and even those who are, greatly overestimate how much actors earn – the assumption is that if you see someone on TV, they must be rich,” actress Rebecca Metz told AFP.

“But that hasn’t been the case in recent years,” she complains, adding that making ends meet has become “extremely difficult.” “I know a lot of people at my level who find second jobs,” says the actress, who played supporting roles in the series. Better things and Shameless.

As in the case of screenwriters, the main problem is the “residual” payment that is paid every time a movie or series is renewed. They are much smaller in the case of streaming platforms, which do not disclose data about their audience.

Actors receive a fixed fee for rebroadcasting on Netflix or Disney+, regardless of the popularity of their production.

“I’ve watched my residual income go down over the last 10 to 15 years,” Metz reports, noting that it’s now only a “tiny fraction” of what it used to be. It’s a serious problem for many actors, she notes, because you have to make minimum wage to get health insurance.

At this point, no one knows if a strike will happen because both sides have been very tight-lipped.

Artificial intelligence is also a concern in Hollywood

Former star Hell’s babysitter and SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher released a video message Friday to announce “very productive negotiations” and promised “a deal breaker.”

But the union’s chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, expressed concern about the “very narrow window” to reach a deal, fueling speculation that talks could be extended temporarily.

The issue of artificial intelligence also complicates the debate, as stakeholders want guarantees to regulate its future use, particularly in the area of ​​voice cloning. Currently, there is no protection against a producer taking ‘our voice, our image’ and using it however they want without paying the actors,” says Rebecca Metz.

Artists also want to regulate the “self-recorded auditions” that have become common during the pandemic: studios require applicants to film themselves using software such as Zoom, forcing them to learn increasingly long scenes without money and denying them feedback from casting agents. directors

“Talking to a camera at home knowing you’ll never get an answer is not what acting is,” Metz laments.