Talks between Hollywood actors and studios to end the strike in the United States have collapsed, leaving unresolved the dispute that has partially paralyzed the entertainment industry. Representatives from studios such as Disney and Netflix were in negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), whose members walked off the sets in July.
The studios, represented by the Association of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP), announced the suspension of the dialogue, alleging that the differences between the parties were too wide and that the talks were not progressing fruitfully. Despite the expectations generated by a prior agreement with the scriptwriters, the gap between the actors and the studios has proven to be unbridgeable until now.
Actors are demanding pay increases, transparency about earnings in the streaming era, and protections against artificial intelligence (AI). However, the studios accuse the actors of making excessive requests, including a division of revenue from streaming shows that would cost more than $800 million a year.
AI has been a significant sticking point in the negotiations. Actors fear that technology will be used to clone their voices and appearances without their consent. Despite the collapse in talks, SAG-AFTRA has expressed its willingness to continue negotiating, as studios hope the union will review its positions and quickly return to productive negotiations. The strike has affected the entertainment industry and has cost millions of dollars each day it has continued. The dispute remains unresolved, and the industry remains in a state of uncertainty.