# SAG-AFTRA strike is a go! (Tentative agreement to end strike 2023-11-08) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002 "2023-07-13T20:31:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/241 "2023-08-29T16:37:07Z")
> **hid hijack, What Exit?** > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > And what percentage of actors have the power to negotiate anything? 1%? 0.1%? Effectively there would be no residuals for the vast majority. For the writers it’s probably and even lower percentage. The majority of the guild needs the residuals to even hope to approach the minimum needed to get health insurance. It will be a benefit to the downtrodden studio heads. > > So join a union ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/242 "2023-08-29T16:41:17Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/243 "2023-08-29T16:43:34Z")
**Moderating:** A modnote and a staff note and you still continue the Hijack. I’ll make this simple, you are no longer to post in this thread. No real excuse for missing that pair of notes. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/244 "2023-08-29T16:55:21Z")
This topic was automatically opened after 11 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/245 "2023-08-30T05:10:43Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > You get whatever you can freely negotiate in your contract. Your standard actor doesn’t get to negotiate a contract. That they sign the union contract makes their compensation fairly reasonable. In any case, by your own words, it is fine for the studios and the union who speak for the actors to negotiate a closed shop. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Maybe it is time to give actors their full compensation for the job up front and dump the concept of residuals. If someone works in a widget factory, they get paid for the widgets they made, they don’t get a few extra cents every time someone later uses the widget. (It is sort of like the “tip every damn body for every damn thing” vs. “pay them adequately in the first place” argument.) Residuals are profit sharing. Commercials, which use more actors than series, that run all the time make more money for the agency. Why not give some of that to the actors? Should CEOs get paid the same if their companies do $1 million in sales versus $1 billion? Widget makes would be like extras, who don’t get residuals. The widget designer might will have a bonus plan which gives more money for successful products. Not to mention that residuals keep production costs down, paying your average actor a relatively smaller amount in return for a possible bigger payout later. Increase salaries to a living wage level and there will be fewer productions and thus less work for everyone, including crew who don’t get residuals. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/246 "2023-08-30T14:30:46Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Maybe it is time to give actors their full compensation for the job up front and dump the concept of residuals. If someone works in a widget factory, they get paid for the widgets they made, they don’t get a few extra cents every time someone later uses the widget. (It is sort of like the “tip every damn body for every damn thing” vs. “pay them adequately in the first place” argument.) As I understand it, that’s the system that was in place during the thirties and forties: > **[How Hollywood's Studio System Worked (Until It Didn't)](https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-the-studio-system-in-hollywood/)** > > The studio system is a business method where Hollywood movie studios control all aspects of their film productions, including distribution. > [@](#): > > - Everyone from actors to directors were paid a salary instead of “per film,” along with having contracts. Residuals were the result of a few major labor actions: [https://www.sagaftra.org/membership-benefits/residuals/history-residuals](https://www.sagaftra.org/membership-benefits/residuals/history-residuals) > [@](#): > > On March 7, 1960, Guild members, by an 83 percent vote, approved a strike. The fight was a difficult one and, as the weeks passed, the strike took a serious toll on both sides. Finally, a compromise was reached. The Guild agreed to forego residual payments on films made prior to 1960. In return, producers agreed to pay residuals on all films made in 1960 and afterward, and the Guild accepted a payment of $2.25 million to form a pension and health plan. > … > And in the 1980 negotiations, SAG and AFTRA members went on strike to get supplemental market residuals from sales in videocassettes and pay TV. I trust that the people who undertook these major actions did so because residuals are really important to themselves and their colleagues, and that they’re undertaking the current labor action for similar reasons. If it made sense, from the workers’ perspective, to get paid piecework, that’s the system they’d be striking for. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/247 "2023-09-06T08:11:33Z")
In case there’s any confusion about why studio leadership is so desperate _right now_ to break the unions and pad their margins long term, this article will be illuminating: > **[Disney-Charter Battle Makes Pay-TV Bundle’s Fadeout A Stark Reality For...](https://deadline.com/2023/09/disney-charter-carriage-battle-pay-tv-bundle-streaming-wall-street-1235537071/)** > > Just as this summer’s New York City wildfire smoke, Los Angeles’ hurricane and sneaker-melting heat have brought home the reality of climate change, the Disney-Charter carriage battle i… Not related to the strike, but _directly_ related to the entertainment industry financial model. Basically the executives have totally muffed the transition away from the old packaged-cable model to the new world of streaming, leaving the whole balance sheet incredibly fragile. The unions want to break open the bookkeeping to determine their fair share, and the corporations are adamant that this cannot happen, not just because they’re trying to screw the talent, but because it shows _everyone_ the house of cards they’ve built. Makes you wonder how the execs justify their nine figure paydays if they were too incompetent to prevent themselves from marching into this financial dead end. Seems to me the shareholders want to be asking some really tough questions. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/248 "2023-09-06T12:49:45Z")
> **[Video Game Workers Are Now Voting Whether to Strike Over AI, Wages](https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy34zq/video-game-workers-are-now-voting-whether-to-strike-over-ai-wages)** > > SAG-AFTRA says video game companies have not addressed adequate on-set protections or proper regulations on using artificial intelligence. The SAG-AFTRA actor’s strike is threatening to spill over into concerns about AI in video game voice work and actor motion-capturing. The general vibe I’ve seen from groups of players I hang around with has been “Oh well, guess I’ll play the bajillion games in my backlog” which isn’t too dissimilar to “Oh well, guess I’ll finally catch up on Netflix/Hulu/Disney+/etc” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/249 "2023-09-12T14:22:38Z")
Apparently there’s been no progress since the strike started. ☹ > **[There’s still no end in sight for the Hollywood strikes](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/still-no-end-sight-hollywood-strikes-rcna104179)** > > The actors union hasn’t heard from the studios since its members went on strike nearly two months ago, a source said, and there’s no imminent deal for the writers union, either. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/250 "2023-09-12T15:59:07Z")
Looking at this from the outside … there seems to be such a backlog of content available that the studios can hold out for a really long time. It’s not apparent to me, in this strike, where the performers’/writers’ leverage comes from. At least not in the immediate term. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/251 "2023-09-12T16:13:42Z")
Their leverage comes in large part because they _are_ prepared for the long term, due to industry shenanigans that have reduced their pay so greatly they’re already being paid next to nothing and have found non-industry jobs to make ends meet (e.g. the TV showrunner who also drives for Uber). This was something the greedy studios failed to consider when they decided to keep all the money for themselves: they were teaching the talent how to do without their paychecks for a long period. This is going to be a lengthy strike. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/252 "2023-09-12T16:42:03Z")
Sure, I can catch up on Netflix/Disney/Hulu and in that sense , there’s a backlog of content for the individual viewer. And the networks can try to fill their schedule with reality shows, and with series imported from Canada. But what are the networks going to do when I get used to not watching late night talk shows? Maybe after a year of watching something else rather than _The Tonight Show_ , I just don’t go back to NBC at 11:30. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/253 "2023-09-12T17:35:06Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > But what are the networks going to do when I get used to not watching late night talk shows? All the networks are owned by larger conglomerates so maybe you’re not watching NBC but you’re consuming some other Universal media product and, in aggregate, it’s mostly the same to the Powers That Be. The late night hosts have a problem, though. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/254 "2023-09-21T23:42:28Z")
I really miss the Jimmy Kimmel Show. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/255 "2023-09-22T13:20:02Z")
I can’t picture a solution to this strike that does not drive up the cost of streaming massively. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/256 "2023-10-02T17:57:44Z")
[Tom Hanks is warning that a dental commercial that seems to feature him does not have his approval.](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-66983194) It was made by AI. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2023, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/257 "2023-10-22T10:39:59Z")
SAG-AFTRA members roll their eyes at the union telling them what Halloween costumes they are allowed to wear.: > **[SAG-AFTRA Responded To Backlash For Strict Halloween Costume Rules After Ryan...](https://www.buzzfeed.com/mychalthompson/sag-aftra-responded-to-backlash-for-strict-halloween)** > > After receiving backlash for very strict Halloween costume guidelines, SAG-AFTRA has issued a clarification to its union membership. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/258 "2023-11-08T01:06:22Z")
> **[As SAG-AFTRA Responds to Studio Offer, AI Protections for High-Earning...](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sag-aftra-ai-protections-for-high-earning-members-sticking-point-1235638247/)** > > According to multiple sources familiar with the state of the negotiations, SAG-AFTRA is seeking to attach a compensation to for the reuse of AI scans. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/259 "2023-11-09T00:49:52Z")
I just heard a rumor a deal has been reached. Edit: Just being reported > **[SAG-AFTRA Approves Deal to End Historic Strike](https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/sag-aftra-tentative-deal-historic-strike-1235771894/)** > > SAG-AFTRA has approved a tentative agreement that will end the longest actors strike against the major studios in Hollywood history. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002/260 "2023-11-09T03:23:03Z")
> The strike will be over as of 12:01 a.m. PT on Thursday, November 9, we hear, putting an end to more than seven months of [labor](https://deadline.com/tag/labor/) unrest in Hollywood that saw the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA hit the picket lines in the industry’s first joint strike in more than 60 years. > **[The Strike Is Over! SAG-AFTRA & Studios Reach Tentative Deal On New...](https://deadline.com/2023/11/sag-strike-ends-actors-studios-deal-contract-1235566470/)** > > After 118 days of the actors guild being out on strike, SAG-AFTRA and the studios on Wednesday reached a tentative deal on a new contract that could see Hollywood up and running again within weeks.… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002.md?page=14)