Fran Drescher, the current president of SAG-AFTRA, along with other union executives, has come forward to support the recent agreement between the government and the studios. This support comes in light of objections raised by some union members regarding the clauses related to the utilization of artificial intelligence. In a recent meeting conducted over Zoom, Drescher addressed the critics on Monday, November 13, accusing them of hindering progress and attempting to disrupt the negotiation process.
Drescher urged SAG members to thoroughly review the specifics of the agreement before casting their votes for the ratification of the contract. She particularly emphasized the importance of understanding the details “if you haven’t yet been poisoned by contrarians.” The tentative contract, which is up for voting this week, received an 86 percent approval from the government’s panel, effectively ending the 118-day strike, marking it as the longest strike in SAG history.
The issue of artificial intelligence played a significant role in the discussions, reminiscent of the concerns raised during the writers’ strike. As per the new deal put forth by SAG, companies are now required to seek permission before creating online versions of actors and disclose the intended use of such digital replicas. Moreover, SAG has implemented regulations and protections concerning AI-generated performers, allowing the prohibition of synthetic performers that bear recognizable traits of real individuals, or demanding appropriate compensation.
Despite the approval of the preliminary agreement, some members of SAG have expressed discontent due to the compromises made regarding AI implementation. Notably, artist and director Justine Bateman emerged as a prominent critic of the AI regulations, providing counsel on the matter during the negotiation phase. Bateman highlighted on social media that the agreement grants producers the authority to utilize AI for altering specific aspects of an actor’s performance and carves out exceptions for the use of digital doubles without consent or payment under certain circumstances.
Bateman particularly raised concerns about the provision allowing studios to employ “Chemical Performers,” which she deemed as a significant issue. She expressed that this provision gives studios and streamers the liberty to use artificial entities resembling humans instead of hiring actual artists. This, in her view, undermines the essence of the coalition deal and parallels the suggestion for studios to engage non-union performers.
In response to the criticism, Duncan Crabtree, the chief negotiator for SAG, defended the AI terms during the virtual meeting, acknowledging that while the agreement may not be flawless, the negotiating team endeavored to secure the best possible safeguards concerning artificial intelligence. He emphasized the collective effort in achieving the set goals from their respective standpoints, ensuring the inclusion of protective measures in the agreement.
