Serial nanny Frania about the actors’ strike. Fran Drescher hits the studios: They’re disgusting

The SAG-AFTRA trade union of American actors has launched an official strike and thus joined the screenwriters who have been protesting for several weeks. Together, they oppose the amount of remuneration that studios grant them for films that have been released on streaming platforms and demand the introduction of appropriate regulations related to the development of artificial intelligence and its impact on the film industry. One of the protesting actresses, and also the president of the trade union, is Fran Drescher, who has been leading the assembly since 2021.

Drescher hits big movie studios

Fran Drescher in her loud speech emphasized that for years actors have been “marginalized, disregarded and humiliated” by a business model that has drastically changed through streaming services and the development of artificial intelligence. “What is happening here is important because what has happened to us affects all professions, especially when employers prioritize Wall Street and their greed and forget about the key associates that keep the whole machine running. We have a problem ” – she announced and admitted that she hoped to avoid the strike and reach an agreement during negotiations with the association of film and television producers AMPTP, which represents major Hollywood studios and major streaming services. However, the talks did not bring the expected result and the actors’ union joined the striking scriptwriters.

The discrepancy in the aspirations and positions of both sides is well illustrated by the example of the solution proposed by the manufacturers regarding artificial intelligence. They invented e.g. that they would like to scan the faces of extras to be able to use them indefinitely to create computer-generated crowd shots. How much would they pay unionized extras for that? Here they proposed a daily rate, which in the US is $185. But not for every use of a person’s image – it would be a one-time fee.

“We’re the victims here. We’re being stalked by a very greedy deal. I’m shocked at how the people we’ve done business with treat us. I can’t believe how far apart we have become on so many things,” said Fran Drescher. SAG-AFTRA brings together around 160,000 actors and extras. Drescher told the producers, “We demand respect. You can’t exist without us!” She strongly emphasized:

I don’t believe how they claim to be poor, to lose money left and right while they give hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It’s disgusting. Let them be ashamed. They’re on the wrong side.

This is the first time actors have gone on strike against representatives of the film and television industry since the 1980s, and the first time writers and actors have gone on strike simultaneously since the 1960s, when Ronald Reagan was president of the Screen Actors Guild. What does the actors’ strike mean? among others that the strikers do not work on the set, and that they will not promote already recorded and finished productions. This was well demonstrated by the situation that took place during the Thursday premiere of “Oppenheimer” in London – the event was left on strike by, among others, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Matt Damon.

What are the actors demanding? among others an increase in the minimum rate, which has been the same for years, higher royalties for films displayed in streaming, as well as for fair regulation of the rules for the use of artificial intelligence in film production. In particular, the issue of rights to the images of actors and extras, as well as financial compensation, is a sensitive issue. The actors point out that their work and image are used in the AI ​​learning process.