What the fuck are the studios gonna do, make movies and shows without actors?
Highlights: The negotiating committee of the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, told its members on Saturday that it had received a “Last, Best and Final Offer” from the major entertainment studios as a strike that has brought much of Hollywood to a standstill continued for a 114th day.
“We are reviewing it and considering our response within the context of the critical issues addressed in our proposals,” the negotiating committee said. They did not say when they would respond to the offer, which came after an hourlong video conference call that included top studio executives.
Included in the offer was a wage increase that could be the highest in four decades, according to a person familiar with the offer who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. The studios also offered the actors a new way to determine residuals for streaming programs based on performance metrics, and protections on artificial intelligence, including consent and compensation requirements. The studios also offered an increase to the pension and health funds.
As a Teamster union steward, any time I hear about a last, best, final, I immediately get super skeptical. Which one is it? Last? Best? Or final?
Probably not best. Probably not last. Final? Doubtful.
Whatever the offer, triple it, then double that. SAG has these motherfuckers by the balls. Double the triple double. Fuck them all.
What’s the difference between last and final?
Last week I went out for dinner. I hope this week isn’t my final week, that would be sad.
If i gave you the last pretzel in my box, wouldn’t that also be the final pretzel? I understand the semantics, it’s just funny to me.
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I don’t disagree. In context though, it’s the last (read latest), best and final (there will be no more) offer.
Last pretzel in the box is not the last pretzel on Earth. Yes, it’s semantics.
Probably nothing, and that’s just another reason I don’t believe them.
Please help us help the studio executives find a better offer by buying some swag here.
Oh look, it’s fake Margot Robbie again
You leave our Margot alone!
Pretty sure that’s the real Margot Robbie, check their post history! It’s really cool that Margs is part of the community!!
oh yeah, check the post history, some how Margot Robbie is an expert in programming IDEs: https://lemm.ee/comment/5424323
Pretty sure this is some Linux nerd running an elaborate joke. Nothing in Margot Robbie’s bio, or interviews suggest a background or interest in programming.
Knowing the difference between VS and VSCode hardly makes me an expert on IDEs. Even if the subject came up (and it never does), why would I ever brag about having basic knowledge of random subjects on national TV?
Also, if I remember correctly, wasn’t there this recent summer blockbuster where the female protagonist defying stereotype and saying something unexpectedly knowledgeable or insightful was a recurring (and somewhat overused) joke?
But some inexplicable reason, I just can’t recall the name of that movie, only in theater July 21st.
Bro, learn to take a joke.
Well you can see she has a lot of newfound spare time with the strikes, it’s possible she just picked it up. It’s also possible that she keeps that part of her life private.
Throughout the profile there’s tons of proof it’s her, she makes references to the strikes and her movies constantly! There’s even a picture of herself as the profile pic!!
Just because Margot is an actress doesn’t mean she doesn’t program, be a little bit open minded. I think it’s pretty neat that she’s an expert in programming IDE’s now, maybe Lemmy is what sparkled her interest to learn!
Edit: Your name is phoneymouse! I looked up the definition of phoney. According to Marian Webster it means “not genuine or real.”. I think you’re projecting!
You caught me, I’m not a real mouse. At least I’m upfront about it.
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Hello Margot Robbie!
Hi!
No. Hollywood actors don’t need more money.
That’s true for some of them, but not all actors are A-listers
I mean, even D-list actors don’t need more money.
a) the Ulmer scale (A–D) hasn’t been used in nearly 15 years, and even then it was out of date
b) panel show and reality TV appearances (The ‘D’ section of the Ulmer) aren’t really the major concern here
Tell me the amount of money you think I got paid for a night shoot for a single ep appearance (not co-star) on BET?
Then tell me how much you think I’ve earned in residuals from it since?
Say more about this? I’ve seen a few good pieces about acting compensation over the years, but nowhere near as many as I’d have liked.
How much did you get paid, assuming it’s not hypothetical? What do panel and reality shows pay? I assume residuals are $0, but I know nothing. What’s the real story here?
“Guest Star”, unnamed character, end roll credits only, 1 ep, about 5 or 6 lines. Just over a grand before fees, about USD$800 after, not factoring year end taxes. No residuals as I wasn’t a principal and it wasn’t full SAG.
You got paid $800 for one-night’s work and 5 or 6 lines?
And still complaining? Lol. Get a grip.
How much did you get paid for 1 night of being in front of a camera?
Also, I don’t really care about the specific ulmer scale. It’s a good tool to discuss the popularity of actors, you can replace D-list with E, F, G, etc etc. until the point makes sense to you.
I mean you were the one who used it, so if you don’t care about how popular an actor is, why do you think they should get paid less?
Lets even the field: What work do you do, and why should you get a pay cut starting tomorrow?
“Final offer”
Sure…
They already did, it’s called “reality” television and it’s why we have the show COPS. However bored people have more entertainment options this time around, and more direct sources of information about the strike.
Were the WGA happy with their deal? I also would like to see this end as the theaters are running out of material, next will be a Ben Shapiro rom-com.
Get content from other countries or get non union actors to work on your projects
Yeah! I’m looking forward to seeing Bandernick Comberbush and Elozibeth Ilson in the next Dr. Strange movie. It’s not like anything in the previous movies endeared me to those characters.
What the fuck are the studios gonna do, make movies and shows without actors?
What are actors going to do? Just star in avant-garde productions because they can’t work with any popular IPs?
That would mean more effort for less money.
Why do you think this is about working with popular IPs? This is about day players working two jobs to survive and not even making enough money to qualify for SAG-AFTRA health insurance because pay is so shit, coupled with the fact that the studios want to steal their likeness and use it in perpetuity using CG.
Why do you think this is about working with popular IPs?
How is this even a question? I was very clear. But to be clearer for those of you in the back, what are the actors going to act in if they can’t act in the movies which the studios own the rights to?
Working two jobs to survive
Okay, bud. I don’t think you know what the word ‘survive’ means. It’s not like these people are ‘surviving’ off of peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. Try to learn the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ before you make this about ‘survival.’
coupled with the fact that the studios want to steal their likeness and use it in perpetuity using CG.
Steal their what? You mean copy?
It’s not like these people are ‘surviving’ off of peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches.
Yes, they literally are. Famous movie stars are paid millions. Day players are paid shit. Maybe work in the industry before you talk about things you know nothing about.
Day players are paid shit. Maybe work in the industry before you talk about things you know nothing about.
What? So you’re telling me they’re actually eating bologna and cheese sandwiches on a regular basis because they can’t afford anything else?
They must not also be subscribing to any streaming services, right? Probably doing a lot of shopping at Walmart? They must not travel much, either.
Or are they trying to live as luxurious a life as possible (like everyone else) while doing as little work as possible? (like everyone else)
Like I said, learn the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ before you try to make this about survival.
What? So you’re telling me they’re actually eating bologna and cheese sandwiches on a regular basis because they can’t afford anything else?
Yes.
They must not also be subscribing to any streaming services, right?
Yes.
Probably doing a lot of shopping at Walmart?
Yes.
Or are they trying to live as luxurious a life as possible (like everyone else) while doing as little work as possible? (like everyone else)
No.
Minimum requirement for SAG-AFTRA health insurance is $26,000 a year. Thousands do not make enough to qualify and do not have health insurance.
If you think making less than $26,000 a year and not having health insurance is living a luxurious life, you must be posting from your tent under a bridge right now.
You forget. They’re not just making less than $26K, they’re also living in LA.
Some of them in their cars.
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I highly doubt this for one big reason: The courts have already ruled that AI generated content isn’t eligible for copyright protection.
Suppose a studio managed to make a Big AI Action Franchise using only AI. They wouldn’t be able to copyright any of the movie. This would mean that people could download and share it freely. Streaming services could put it online without needing to pay the studio that “made” the film. Movie theaters could get a copy online and show it instead of paying for copies.
A copyright free AI Movie would be a revenue disaster. And we know that if there’s one thing the studios care about, it’s money.
Okay? Where’s that line? Do we need one voice actor? A human “director”? Trust capitalism to find the limit. Also the judiciary is looking pretty compromised these days. There’s a good chance the corporations bat their eyes at the judges and suddenly the studio’s rights are recognized but not any individual creators.
That line is whatever you want to copyright.
So if you make an AI generated movie and then add one voice actor, then I can copy and sell everything except the voice actor.
I can copy the movie replacing the voice actor with another, edit them out entirely, write and sell a novelization, use the images from your movie to make action figures and T shirts…
“These people will be replaced one day, so let’s not pay them fairly now” is not the good argument you think it is.
Very soon is still 10 years out, but you aren’t wrong.
Ironically this will level the playing field for truly good and creative writing, but will also generate a fuck ton of “crap”
It’s gonna be an interesting ride.
10 years out is still very optimistic…
I’d be surprised if there’s a movie in 2033 that had absolutely zero input from a human, let alone a popular one and definitely not the vast majority of movies.
Even 20 years is probably optimistic.
Sure, but in 10 years, someone will be able to tell ai “make me a movie about cowboys where x happens” and it’ll make a script. And we’ll be able to ask ai to make a cgi scene where x happens.
It will drastically shrink the workforce required to do it.
That usually leads to more products, not fewer workers.
I wish AI would take over 90% of my job, production would go though the roof.
That’s awesome, why would we need the studios then? I can just generate my own movies. But until then maybe we can compensate actors fairly and the studios can also live on until we don’t need them anymore.
That’s awesome, why would we need the studios then? I can just generate my own movies.
Fuck yeah! But I’m sure there will be some legal fuckery to keep this out of most people’s reach.
but I thought the supreme court has already deemed AI as unenforceable copyright. so anything they do could just be reproduced for free/cheap, so not really a sustainable idea?
Kaufman already commented on this by saying that most drivel shat out by Hollywood could be done by AI anyways.
It’s rare you see something original and good. Most people won’t know whether the next 10 marvel movies are written by AI because it’s all ad-lib crap anyways.
He specifically likened it to eating fast food your entire life and thinking it’s normal because you haven’t had anything else.
Ai will just reduce creativity to a mass of dull grey.
