SAG-AFTRA Ends Strike with New AI Regulations, Industry Reactions Mixed
Summary:
The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has ended its 118-day strike with an agreement covering various aspects, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The agreement defines and sets parameters for the digital duplication of performers, including a new actor category termed as a "synthetic performer." It also stresses the necessity for explicit actor consent during the replication process and addresses the use of replicas to replace background actors. Reactions from industry insiders varied, with some applauding the progress and others voicing dissatisfaction and concern for the performers’ future.
After a lengthy strike spanning 118 days, the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) reached an agreement on Nov. 9 covering various aspects, including artificial intelligence (AI) usage. The union has since published an overview of its final contract with studios, which features an extensive 4.5-page set of AI guidelines and a digital pamphlet detailing the mutually agreed upon AI industry rules. Expectations are that the AI agreement will become effective 90 days after ratification.
Terms of the agreement encompass an industry-specific definition of AI, digital duplication of performers and non-lead actors, digital alterations, and the implementation of biannual meetings between the union and producers regarding the use of generative AI. As reported by Rolling Stone, the contract won the approval of 86% of the union's board and was set to be voted on by union members starting Nov. 12, over a three-week voting period.
The newly inked agreement provides definitions and sets parameters for the generation, usage, and modification of performers' "digital duplicates". These digital renditions are replicas of the performer's voice or physical attributes, created to give the appearance of the performer's involvement in scenes they did not actually participate in.
The agreement also paves the way for a new category of actor termed as a "synthetic performer". As per the agreement, this is a "digitally-made asset" designed to appear as a natural performer, who cannot be identified as any recognizable natural performer.
The replication of background actors is also addressed in the contract. It states that replicas cannot replace background actors, nor can they be used to achieve daily background actor quotas.
The replication process noticeably requires transparent and explicit consent from the actor, whether in the lead or supporting role. Consent must be acquired not only for the replica's use in the production it was originally created for but also for its use in any future projects.
There has been a mixed bag of reactions from industry insiders, ranging from appreciation for the agreement and eagerness to proceed, to dissatisfaction and concern for the performers’ future.
Popular director and producer, Justine Bateman, publicly expressed her disagreement with the AI allowances, branding them as intrusive, and voiced her disappointment with the SAG-AFTRA administration. On the other hand, Jason Winston George, a member of the negotiating committee and an actor, defended the pact, stating it is impractical and impossible to stand against technological advancements.
Despite the disagreements, the SAG-AFTRA strike has ended, following the conclusion of a similar strike by the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) in September. The WGA strike also revolved around negotiations on industry practices, including the use of AI in writer's rooms.
Published At
11/13/2023 11:21:16 AM
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