SAG-AFTRA and studios discuss AI back and forth as talks gain momentum; Further negotiations are planned for Thursday – update

UPDATE, 20:51: In their latest round of discussions, SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are exploring artificial intelligence in a clearly parallel process.

Just hours after Deadline reported (see below) that the Screen Actors Guild and studios are “closer” to a difficult new three-year deal and a possible end to the now 111-day strike, SAG-AFTRA has one of its most detailed news reports, but its 160,000 members.

“The Negotiating Committee met today to discuss and finalize our response to the AMPTP AI counterproposal we received yesterday,” the TV/Theatre Negotiating Committee said. “Negotiators then met with AMPTP representatives for more than three hours this afternoon and tonight to present and review our revised proposal.”

Along with a clear mechanism for so-called “performance-based compensation” for cast members on popular streaming shows, AI has already proven to be a sticking point in negotiations ahead of the SAG-AFTRA strike in mid-July.

Not that there aren’t other issues and requirements that the parties still have to overcome.

“We are still awaiting the AMPTP’s response to our comprehensive counter-proposal package that we presented to them on Saturday, which addresses outstanding issues,” the guild told members late Wednesday. “Please know that your presence on the campaigns and your support on social media continues to be a source of inspiration.”

Sources on both sides tell Deadline that AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA plan to communicate and talk directly tomorrow.

BEFORE, 17:19: EXCLUSIVE: There is real movement in talks between SAG-AFTRA and the studios on a new three-year deal.

There is no agreement yet, but we hear there is a framework for a possible agreement.

Back in negotiations on Wednesday, the 111th day of the actors’ strike, the two sides are getting “closer” to an agreement, a SAG-AFTRA source said. Whether that will lead to a tentative agreement in the coming days or next week remains to be seen, but a more “optimistic” mood now prevails in the virtual talks – “for what it’s worth,” an industry insider close to the negotiations said. .

“I would say we are now beyond cautious optimism,” the source added, taking a swipe at the term that has echoed in conversations in recent days.

SAG-AFTRA Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and AMTP President Carol Lombardini were back at the helm today as smaller teams of specialists worked through the details. By doing so, the parties seem to be taking at least some of the heat off the sensitive issues of AI and so-called “performance-based compensation” for the cast of popular streaming shows and films.

“There’s a ‘let’s just do it’ mentality in the room,” a studio source said of the upbeat atmosphere of today’s talks, which included NBCUniversal CEO Donna Langley, Disney’s Bob Iger and Warner Discovery’s Bros, included, was not involved. David Zaslav and Ted Sarandos of Netflix. Another source added: “I know the big topics are going well, but they are continuing to discuss the AI ​​formulation” and “it will take a few days.”

Today’s discussions continued into the late afternoon, with the parties expecting further discussions tomorrow, November 2.

This latest state of affairs follows a unity protest meeting by several unions outside of Disney today and the announcement that Disney will buy out Comcast’s remaining 33 percent stake in Hulu for $8.61 billion and move forward.

As in recent days, neither SAG-AFTRA nor AMPTP responded to Deadline’s request for comment on today’s talks. If that happens, we’ll update this post.

Hoping the talks are moving in the right direction, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a social media video Wednesday: “I just want you to know that I feel a sense of strength and not anger and I feel a sense of strength. A sense of optimism, not negativity.”

Despite this optimism, we hear that the pain the industry is experiencing after more than six months of strikes is weighing heavily on both parties.

The now concluded WGA strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA action cost California an estimated $6.5 billion and 45,000 lost entertainment jobs. Many TV and film workers are losing their savings or putting their homes at risk after already enduring a global pandemic that has also halted global production.

However, with the WGA strike at the end of September, some studios have crews ready to resume production on paused titles, ie: Gladiator 2 And BeetlejuiceI hope the actors can get back to work soon.

The fate of several awards-season films is also in limbo, as stars have been unable to show off their chops at film festivals and receptions in New York City and Los Angeles in recent months.

Once stars like Emma Stone (Poor stuff), Paul Giamatti (The survivors), George Clooney (The boys in the boat) and Rosamund Pike and Barry Keoghan (Salt burns) is available, many expect the upcoming Oscar season to take on a lighter hue. Filmmakers like Emerald Fennell (Salt burns), Alexander Payne (The survivors) and Martin Scorsese (Flower Moon Killer) made the effort to create buzz for their films, but also to open them up; The latest Apple-Paramount title opened to a whopping $23 million in the United States in a box office market dampened by the lack of actors to promote their films. A24, who is not a member of AMPTP, has seen several of his films such as: Pricilla, Ironclaw, And Dream scenario Sign SAG-AFTRA interim agreements allowing artists to post photos at festivals and shows.

Big Hollywood premieres, which can cause tension on social media ahead of a film’s premiere, are also yearning for an end to the actors’ strike. The new Hunger games In the prequel, since Lionsgate is not a member of AMPTP, there is an interim agreement between SAG and AFTRA, which allows the cast to be promoted. However, Disney/Marvel Studios did The wondersWarner Bros. Wonka And Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom We hope that the cast will fully attend their respective fan events in the coming weeks if an agreement can be reached.