The entertainment industry has something to be thankful about. The end of the SAG-AFTRA strike is here just in time for the holidays.
AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA have come to a tentative agreement. Picket lines were suspended at 12:01 am, November 9, 2023. Official details will not be released until the contract is reviewed by the SAG-AFTRA National Board and ratified. Both sides are proud of their efforts to bring about the current deal that awaits ratification.
Studios are calling the deal a “new paradigm: including the largest increase in minimum wages in the last forty years; a brand new residual for streaming programs; extensive consent and compensation protections in the use of artificial intelligence; and sizable contract increases on items across the board.”
The Union is as ecstatic about the “new paradigm”. Resolving these big ticket items is a monumental step forward in the right direction. SAG-AFTRA is equally proud of its ability to negotiate for the background performers and diverse communities. The Negotiating Committee stated that the contract will permit “members from every category to build sustainable careers: Pension & Health caps have been substantially raised, outsize compensation increases for background performers, and critical contract provisions protecting diverse communities.”
The “unprecedented provisions” of this billion dollar contract is an extraordinary accomplishment by both parties. It is time to get back to work and create meaningful, engaging, and authentic content: something we will all be thankful for.
Roger Gerard Cole is an award winning independent writer, producer, director, teacher, and actor. His scripts continue to receive awards and recognition on the festival circuit. He directed and managed a production club that released their first feature film in 2023, currently directs a local school drama program, works with various production companies, founded the Las Vegas Faith and Family Film Festival, and serves as a deacon at a local church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Roger studied improvisation; script analysis; commercial, dramatic, and comedic reading with Karen Williams at the Acting and Performance Academy of Las Vegas.