SAG-AFTRA, as far as I can tell, failed to give us the full picture before calling this strike. If what is stated in the attached article is true, I'm unsure why our union called this strike. The truth seems murky.
https://deadline.com/2023/07/actors-strike-studios-dispute-sag-aftra-con...
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Thanks for sharing, Matthew Gross. From what I've seen and heard since the WGA strike started, the AMPTP is the one playing dirty and being greedy. I don't see any reason for the SAG-AFTRA to lie.
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Before the strike started an actor I know was called in to do an ADR session on a studio project. When she was there, they then told her that they needed to scan her face to use in a different scene. The contract would have given them control of her image in perpetuity. It's just one anecdote but stuff like that was happening. Of course there is jockeying going on in the court of public opinion but I stand with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA and believe they are taking this position and stand for the right reasons.
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The AMPTP is mad because of the wording used in SAG-AFTRA's chart. After reading their rebuttal, it's a poor attempt at spinning the conversation to save a little face. For instance, on session fee increases, AMPTP is like "Hey! This is the largest percentage increase we've ever given!" But when you read SAG-AFTRA's argument that we need more in year 1 just to account for inflation, then really the AMPTP is saying "Hey! You're still gonna make less in 2023 dollars than you did in 2020 dollars, why aren't you happy!"
Did SAG-AFTRA craft this table to paint the AMPTP in a bad light? Yes, but not through lies or manipulations. Let's face it, the AMPTP needs no help being cast as the villain. The way they're hiding advance residuals "inside" session fees, the way they want to treat background in regards to AI, the way they're rejecting some of the other proposals? They're the villain in their own story, which is hilarious, given that they are all in the business of telling stories of redemption, hope, moral victories, etc.
I'm also close friends with a member of the negotiating committee, so I've gotten clarity first hand on these contentious issues since the start of the strike.
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Matthew Cornwell great comment, Matthew. Thanks for enlightening us.