In an exclusive report, SAG-AFTRA raises concerns about the future of the acting profession unless significant changes are made to its current contract. The guild recently conducted an informational meeting over Zoom, attended by more than 760 individuals, including high-profile actors Lupita Nyong’o, Vanessa Kirby, Melissa McCarthy, Vanessa Hudgens, Lucy Liu, Laverne Cox, Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Jon Huertas, and Josh Pence, as confirmed by a reliable source. Industry leaders from CAA and UTA, such as Bryan Lourd, Faith France, Ryan Abboushi, Jay Gassner, Shani Rosenzweig, Houston Costa, and Kris Heller of IAG, were also present. Esteemed publicists joined the discussion, including Mara Buxbaum, Jill Fritzo, Luke Windsor, Brianna Smith, and Cheryl Maisel.
National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland spearheaded the meeting, providing participants with concise talking points. The topics covered included revenue sharing, health care, retirement, online casting platforms, and artificial intelligence. The memo presented during the meeting emphasized the urgent need for transformative changes within SAG-AFTRA’s contract with the AMPTP. According to the document, failure to implement these changes would result in the acting profession becoming an unviable option for future generations of performers. It further states that existing actors in the industry would have to seek alternative careers for their survival.
During the meeting, Crabtree-Ireland addressed questions from participants in the chat, including whether SAG-AFTRA members should cancel subscriptions to streaming services currently being struck. While no official rule exists regarding subscriptions, Crabtree-Ireland reportedly mentioned that discontinuing a subscription could be a way to demonstrate support for the strike, according to an insider.
Two additional Zoom meetings on the same topic are scheduled for Tuesday, July 18.
Gene Maddaus of Variety reported on July 15 that the primary areas of disagreement between SAG-AFTRA and major studios revolve around the union’s demand for a 2% share of revenue from streaming shows. The two parties also remain far apart on minimum rate increases. The studios have offered 5%, 4%, and 3.5% across the three-year contract, while the union is pushing for 11%, 4%, and 4% for the respective years.
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