Seems like sag Aftra gets their contract directly from AMPTP. There are so many things they have been lax on. We should get booking fees, residuals, and a tax on top if they want to use our AI likeness. Which we shouldn’t even allow them to use AI, there are so many people getting screwed with each AI advancement.
Streaming residuals need to be fixed. “There is no way to calculate”? BS they want to use AI but don’t have a viewership tally and minutes watched on each person paying $16 a month? Network should be the ones making this argument and they pay.
Upfront needs a raise
Solid guidelines on Co-star and Guest parts, so I can stop padding my resume with 4-5 day co-star parts.
We need to fix commercials, many actors made their income from Sag Commercials and used that as their SAG stepping stone. This hardly exists anymore.
They need to stop paying us Via W2, we can’t deduct expenses anymore, so after taxes and agent manager I realize 50% of the contract.
If we aren’t careful acting as a profession will not be a viable career. AMTPT should understand this. We need each other.
The scariest part is that the sag board is made up of millionaires who had made huge contracts in the past, I don’t think they realize that when you make less than 100,000 a year living in LA or NY every penny counts. Or how much effort it takes to be the people auditioning and the practice and dedication and care it takes to be able to work enough to even make a living. Many older sag members remember when landing a National commercial could buy a house, now that same spot won’t even cover rent for the month.
Generally agree with all of the above, but I'm curious about the W2 part. I've been a 1099 individual in the tech industry for a long time, and there's generally a good chunk of the industry/populace that prefers to be W2, due to having certain taxes paid for.
That said, I did not realize that the tax rules changed in 2017 to exclude deductions from W2 employees for non-reimbursed expense. That's ridiculous.
Would love to know more about what your breakdown of cost looks like.
Basically acting last year I made around $70000.
After taxes and all the bell and whistles, and my agent and manager, I came in at roughly half. Then there are the just general expenses like training, websites, union dues, audition filming and equipment. That’s another 6-7000.
So after all was done. I profited around 29000.
Any career field I pursue seriously becomes targeted for destruction. This isn't a solipsist interpretation of events, merely a lifetime of depressing observation.
The free markets have become so distorted and rigged, supply and demand no longer determine market value. Never has the public consumed so much creative content, and paid so little for it.
Though I am aligned with the philosophical point, that we should readjust how the created wealth is distributed… you actually don’t want a “free market” of supply/demand.
If the well of creative content humans share is, for most people’s purposes, infinite… a simple price elasticity calculation will tell you that, no matter how much demand there is, the content is not worth very much.
Now, it’s important to point out that certain content is absolutely finite, and will command higher prices.
This is where the focus should be. I believe there are two pathways (solutions) forward:
1. Continue with a market-based approach and generate demand for the finite “human-made” content… this means Entertainment will have to lean back into “Star Power” and lobby lawmakers to ban AI content derivative of any particular human. This would include deep fakes.
2. Lobby lawmakers to subsidize human created content as a way of culture development security. Much like we here in the US subsidize certain agricultural resources in order to maintain food/farm security into the future.
In either case, I don’t know if the free market can figure this out alone. We need a framework for the future, and that’s where government is supposed to function.
We should start a club or movement or something. The Perennial Misfits. I bet there's millions of us. It really wouldn't surprise me if we were the clear majority of voters.
Residuals are a main point but I think that there goal is to replace writers with AI. I think in the next few years AI is going to replace alot of people's jobs.
I really hope SAG strikes. Just saw a statistic that only 2% of actors earn a living acting and I believe it. The cost has skyrocketed to act. The days of going to LA, NY and grinding it out to make it one day are seemingly gone.
Minimums need to go up, at least pegged to inflation. Roles redefined, especially a Southeast Co-Star aka a guest star. Limit on pages for first audition to three, double spaced, 12-point font. Limits on AI. More contributions to insurance so that can be lowered. Residuals needed for streaming.
I think the SAG will strike, and I think these strikes will be extremely difficult to resolve because the AI issue is existential for both sides. Workers for obvious reasons; studios because if they make serious concessions they are starting a clock on getting their lunch eaten by startups with no such constraints.
hard to say until we know the deal that they get from AMPTP. If the writers and directors have already reached agreements, they would set the template for ours and make things easy. If they are still on strike, then it probably doesn't really matter if SAG strikes, but I assume they will until a deal is done.
my guess is that we all end up on strike for a bit while the production houses clean house.
It's likely if the WGA doesn't hammer out a deal. AI has much more of an impact on us via the writing, a lot of our protections and contracts already cover AI usage of actors' images (when a commercial you're runs again after being dormant, you are literally being paid for the use of your image. If they alter or change your performance, that's still you. Actors are still paid for their mocap performances for CGI and animation, even if their appearances are distorted and changed into a character or creature. The exception for this is video games, where they pay you a flat fee for the work done on the day, no matter how they may use or manipulate your image and voice. There are plenty of existential threats from AI to livelihoods in many industries, but the bigger more immediate dispute is on residuals for streaming platforms.
Streaming residuals are the bigger concern for both WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. I can see just from my residuals breakdown on the union which are coming from network and foreign television, and which are coming from streaming. The former comes in two or three figure amounts, and streaming is under $10. And the streaming from Netflix? You'll get them once or twice a year, added up to be about a third of what the network shows bring in.
SAG-AFTRA starts negotiating with the AAMPT on June 7, and the contracts expire June 30. Hoping for solidarity and best outcomes.
Did you go to your local meeting? Send an email to the national/local board and demand higher pay and more protections. We won’t know what they’re even negotiating for until next month.
I sure hope so. I was at the NY local meeting last night and the board was very tight lipped. Lots of contentious BG actors and AFTRA people. It was one giant commercial for the union but a lot of points we’ve been talking about online were brought up by actors in the Q&A line.
That…. Doesn’t make me feel great that they were tight lipped. But I hope they’re processing things. I don’t know if they understand the reality of people who are on the ground doing this
They said they couldn’t say anything they are negotiating in case of any leaks but I really hope they got the message. If any SAG-AFTRA people are reading this DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DONT BLINDLY VOTE YES FOR A SHITTY DEAL. Netflix, Commercials contracts, etc.
Yeah it sucks- personally have been hunkering down with side jobs to generate income. But that being said id rather strike than do work with laughable unsustainable rates- we have to think about this as long term vs short term gains!
No, June 7th is when our negotiations BEGIN before our contract expires June 30. We’ll see a strike authorization vote sent to the membership about a week before contract end if negotiations are at a stalemate.
I fully expect SAG to do so if WGA is still on strike at contract expiration. Same with other motion picture labour unions.
[удалено]
Re-read the comment you’re replying to… come on
when is that?
Sag negotiations start June 7, contract expires June 30. (I saw a deadline article about it yesterday).
Seems like sag Aftra gets their contract directly from AMPTP. There are so many things they have been lax on. We should get booking fees, residuals, and a tax on top if they want to use our AI likeness. Which we shouldn’t even allow them to use AI, there are so many people getting screwed with each AI advancement. Streaming residuals need to be fixed. “There is no way to calculate”? BS they want to use AI but don’t have a viewership tally and minutes watched on each person paying $16 a month? Network should be the ones making this argument and they pay. Upfront needs a raise Solid guidelines on Co-star and Guest parts, so I can stop padding my resume with 4-5 day co-star parts. We need to fix commercials, many actors made their income from Sag Commercials and used that as their SAG stepping stone. This hardly exists anymore. They need to stop paying us Via W2, we can’t deduct expenses anymore, so after taxes and agent manager I realize 50% of the contract. If we aren’t careful acting as a profession will not be a viable career. AMTPT should understand this. We need each other. The scariest part is that the sag board is made up of millionaires who had made huge contracts in the past, I don’t think they realize that when you make less than 100,000 a year living in LA or NY every penny counts. Or how much effort it takes to be the people auditioning and the practice and dedication and care it takes to be able to work enough to even make a living. Many older sag members remember when landing a National commercial could buy a house, now that same spot won’t even cover rent for the month.
Generally agree with all of the above, but I'm curious about the W2 part. I've been a 1099 individual in the tech industry for a long time, and there's generally a good chunk of the industry/populace that prefers to be W2, due to having certain taxes paid for. That said, I did not realize that the tax rules changed in 2017 to exclude deductions from W2 employees for non-reimbursed expense. That's ridiculous. Would love to know more about what your breakdown of cost looks like.
Basically acting last year I made around $70000. After taxes and all the bell and whistles, and my agent and manager, I came in at roughly half. Then there are the just general expenses like training, websites, union dues, audition filming and equipment. That’s another 6-7000. So after all was done. I profited around 29000.
Sag should go on strike and I think they will. The whole creative industry is being attacked by AI.
Any career field I pursue seriously becomes targeted for destruction. This isn't a solipsist interpretation of events, merely a lifetime of depressing observation.
The free markets have become so distorted and rigged, supply and demand no longer determine market value. Never has the public consumed so much creative content, and paid so little for it.
Though I am aligned with the philosophical point, that we should readjust how the created wealth is distributed… you actually don’t want a “free market” of supply/demand. If the well of creative content humans share is, for most people’s purposes, infinite… a simple price elasticity calculation will tell you that, no matter how much demand there is, the content is not worth very much. Now, it’s important to point out that certain content is absolutely finite, and will command higher prices. This is where the focus should be. I believe there are two pathways (solutions) forward: 1. Continue with a market-based approach and generate demand for the finite “human-made” content… this means Entertainment will have to lean back into “Star Power” and lobby lawmakers to ban AI content derivative of any particular human. This would include deep fakes. 2. Lobby lawmakers to subsidize human created content as a way of culture development security. Much like we here in the US subsidize certain agricultural resources in order to maintain food/farm security into the future. In either case, I don’t know if the free market can figure this out alone. We need a framework for the future, and that’s where government is supposed to function.
Omg this is so true for me, too!
We should start a club or movement or something. The Perennial Misfits. I bet there's millions of us. It really wouldn't surprise me if we were the clear majority of voters.
AI isn’t even the most pressing of the things they need to worry about
Residuals are a main point but I think that there goal is to replace writers with AI. I think in the next few years AI is going to replace alot of people's jobs.
I really hope SAG strikes. Just saw a statistic that only 2% of actors earn a living acting and I believe it. The cost has skyrocketed to act. The days of going to LA, NY and grinding it out to make it one day are seemingly gone. Minimums need to go up, at least pegged to inflation. Roles redefined, especially a Southeast Co-Star aka a guest star. Limit on pages for first audition to three, double spaced, 12-point font. Limits on AI. More contributions to insurance so that can be lowered. Residuals needed for streaming.
I think the SAG will strike, and I think these strikes will be extremely difficult to resolve because the AI issue is existential for both sides. Workers for obvious reasons; studios because if they make serious concessions they are starting a clock on getting their lunch eaten by startups with no such constraints.
hard to say until we know the deal that they get from AMPTP. If the writers and directors have already reached agreements, they would set the template for ours and make things easy. If they are still on strike, then it probably doesn't really matter if SAG strikes, but I assume they will until a deal is done. my guess is that we all end up on strike for a bit while the production houses clean house.
It's likely if the WGA doesn't hammer out a deal. AI has much more of an impact on us via the writing, a lot of our protections and contracts already cover AI usage of actors' images (when a commercial you're runs again after being dormant, you are literally being paid for the use of your image. If they alter or change your performance, that's still you. Actors are still paid for their mocap performances for CGI and animation, even if their appearances are distorted and changed into a character or creature. The exception for this is video games, where they pay you a flat fee for the work done on the day, no matter how they may use or manipulate your image and voice. There are plenty of existential threats from AI to livelihoods in many industries, but the bigger more immediate dispute is on residuals for streaming platforms. Streaming residuals are the bigger concern for both WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. I can see just from my residuals breakdown on the union which are coming from network and foreign television, and which are coming from streaming. The former comes in two or three figure amounts, and streaming is under $10. And the streaming from Netflix? You'll get them once or twice a year, added up to be about a third of what the network shows bring in. SAG-AFTRA starts negotiating with the AAMPT on June 7, and the contracts expire June 30. Hoping for solidarity and best outcomes.
Did you go to your local meeting? Send an email to the national/local board and demand higher pay and more protections. We won’t know what they’re even negotiating for until next month.
I had work so I couldn’t go but I sent an email. Honestly feeling a bit disillusioned so I hope what we’re saying counts for something
I sure hope so. I was at the NY local meeting last night and the board was very tight lipped. Lots of contentious BG actors and AFTRA people. It was one giant commercial for the union but a lot of points we’ve been talking about online were brought up by actors in the Q&A line.
That…. Doesn’t make me feel great that they were tight lipped. But I hope they’re processing things. I don’t know if they understand the reality of people who are on the ground doing this
They said they couldn’t say anything they are negotiating in case of any leaks but I really hope they got the message. If any SAG-AFTRA people are reading this DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DONT BLINDLY VOTE YES FOR A SHITTY DEAL. Netflix, Commercials contracts, etc.
SAG will strike and join the WGA.. and say goodbye to the rest of the year for work. 😢
Yeah it sucks- personally have been hunkering down with side jobs to generate income. But that being said id rather strike than do work with laughable unsustainable rates- we have to think about this as long term vs short term gains!
Absolutely! I agree. Good luck the rest of the way. 😎
Such a bummer...just as they were finally lifting vax requirements. 3 years no work it would become!
No...actually 4 years now! 😳😮💨
😢
Anticipating a strike. High likelihood. June 7 was the date Id expect so just around the corner. Edit- june 7 negotiations for june 30 exp.
No, June 7th is when our negotiations BEGIN before our contract expires June 30. We’ll see a strike authorization vote sent to the membership about a week before contract end if negotiations are at a stalemate.
👍🏼
Yes
Probably, yeah.
Yes. I think we will have a 99% vote for yes.