Jul 13, 2023 at 5:24 pm

Studios Share the Offers They Claim Were Rejected by SAG-AFTRA

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) is outlining its proposal.

On Thursday (July 13), it was announced that SAG-AFTRA is preparing to strike against the AMPTP after the two organizations failed to negotiate a new contract.

In a statement regarding the declaration, the AMPTP – which represents the studios, streaming services and broadcast networks in their labor negotiations with unions – said it “presented a deal that offered historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, and a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses.”

Keep reading to find out more…

However, SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland responded by saying that the AMPTP remains “steadfast in their commitment to devalue the work of our members.”

He noted that the AI proposal from studios would see background performers paid for one day of work in exhange for the rights to their digital likeness “for the rest of eternity with no compensation.” “If you think that’s a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again,” Duncan added.

AMPTP claims that the proposal includes the highest percentage increase in minimums in 35 years, limitations on self-tape requests and shortened options periods for TV series regulars earning less than a certain amount.

The AMPTP’s talking points were outlined in a memo, which you can read below via THR:

– The highest percentage increase in minimums in 35 years
– 76% increase in High Budget SVOD foreign residuals
– Substantial increases in pension and health contribution caps
– Groundbreaking AI proposal which protects performers’ digital likenesses,
including a requirement for performer’s consent for the creation and use of digital
replicas or for digital alterations of a performance.
– 58% increase in salaries for major role (guest star) performers wages on High
Budget SVOD Programs.
– Limitation of self-tape requests, including page, time and tech requirements.
Options for virtual or in-person auditions.
– 11% pay increase in year 1 for background actors, stand-ins and photo doubles,
an additional 17% increase for background actors required to do extensive
self-styling, and an additional 62% increase for stand-ins required to deliver lines
during a run-through and photo doubles required to memorize and deliver lines
on camera.
– First-time-ever fixed residuals for Stunt Coordinators on television and High
Budget SVOD programs.
– Shortened option periods for series regulars earning less than $65,000 per
episode on a half-hour series or less than $70,000 per episode on a one-hour
series.
– Dancers will now receive the on-camera rate for rehearsal days.