Actors Follow Writers With Tentative Deal

Actors and major studios have reached agreement on a contract that, if ratified, would avert a shutdown like the 2023 strikes that stalled Hollywood production for months. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said it has a multiyear agreement in place with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, just over a week after the Writers Guild of America finalized its own four-year deal with the same group, the Wall Street Journal reports. Both unions went on strike last year, halting most scripted film and TV work.

Terms were not released, but talks had focused on higher residual payments for streaming projects and stronger protections against the use of artificial intelligence. The union wants stricter controls on synthetic characters, per Variety. The tentative deal applies to scripted movies and television series; the existing contract expires June 30. SAG-AFTRA said its National Board will review the deal, which KNBC reports was reached Saturday, in the coming days before it goes to members.