The movie studios and the actors union, SAG-AFRA have reached an tentative deal that will bring the sides together once again.
The deal was announced late Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, by the actors union, which has been picketing for more than four months.
Hollywood Strike Comes To An End
“In a unanimous vote this afternoon, The SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Committee approved a tentative agreement with the AMPTP bringing an end to the 118 day strike,” the union said in a statement. “The strike officially ends at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, November 9.”
The union’s board still has to ratify the agreement, which adds several benefits for actors including:
- Pay raise
- Increase in residuals for shows streamed online
- Added contributions to union health care plans
- Added contributions to union pension plans
New rules were also included that govern the use of actors’ likenesses with artificial intelligence, a major sticking point of negotiations.
The settlement comes more than five weeks after the screenwriters reached a deal with the studios.
The development means that Atlanta casting calls and movie/TV productions may finally increase soon.
The strike was contentious until the very end, with many criticizing the recent comments of filmmaker Tyler Perry, who said that he understands both sides.
“Georgia is a right to work state, but I closed the doors to stand in solidarity with SAG,” Perry said. “But in understanding the working actor, I paid Cicely Tyson $1 million for one day of work … I paid Taraji P. Henson talks about me paying her $500,000 to raise her quotes.”
Tyler went on to say that, “It’s really important to know when we have won. This is only a three-year deal so in three years, we’ll be negotiating again.”
He comments were construed as saying that the union should take what the studios are offering “for now” and to see what they can do after the deal expires.
Earlier this fall, the Writers Guild announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Both sides finalized the deal late Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.
“WGA has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP,” the guild said in statement “This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who joined us on the picket lines for over 146 days.”