SAG-AFTRA is set to meet again on Wednesday with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after a “productive” day of talks on Tuesday.
The sides continue to project “cautious optimism” about resolving the strike, which is now on Day 110. The studios have warned that they must get a deal this week in order to be able to produce partial seasons of scripted network TV series.
The union continues to bargain over the use of artificial intelligence, which has become one of the key remaining issues, though not the only one. The union is not seeking for forbid studios from using AI to create “digital doubles,” but does want language guaranteeing consent and minimum compensation for such use. The union has also sought to restrict AI training on past work, and has asked for a provision giving the union a veto over AI uses.
Once again, four studio CEOs — David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, Donna Langley of NBC Universal, and Bob Iger of Disney — did not participate in the talks on Tuesday. They have not been at the negotiating table since last Thursday, leaving the bargaining again to AMPTP CEO Carol Lombardini and her staff.
For the 111th day of the strike on Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA is holding a “unity picket” at Disney headquarters in Burbank. Picketing at other L.A. locations will be canceled for the day.
On Monday night, the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee said that recent talks had been productive, but said the two sides remain “far apart on key issues.”
The union has also urged members to keep up the pressure on the AMPTP by continuing to picket, and by posting on social media in support of the strike.
