After a nearly four-month strike, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The deal, which must still be ratified by SAG-AFTRA members, would bring an end to the longest strike in the union’s history.

The strike began on July 14, 2023, after SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhelmingly to reject the AMPTP’s initial contract offer. Actors were demanding better pay, residuals, and protections against the use of artificial intelligence in their performances.

The tentative agreement includes a number of gains for actors, including:

• A significant increase in minimum wages for film and TV actors, the largest in 40 years.
• A new residual for streaming programs, which will give actors a share of the revenue generated by their performances on streaming services.
• Extensive consent and compensation protections for actors whose performances are used in artificial intelligence-generated content.
• Sizable contract increases on items across the board, including benefits and working conditions.

In a statement, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said that the tentative agreement is “a historic victory for actors.”

“This deal represents the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of SAG-AFTRA,” Drescher said. “It is a testament to the solidarity and strength of our members, who stood together for nearly four months to demand fair pay and working conditions.”

The AMPTP also released a statement, saying that the tentative agreement is “a fair and balanced deal that benefits both actors and studios.”

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with SAG-AFTRA,” the AMPTP said. “This deal gives actors significant wage increases, new residuals, and important protections against the use of artificial intelligence. It also provides studios with the certainty they need to plan and produce new films and TV shows.”

The tentative agreement will go to the SAG-AFTRA national board for approval on Friday, November 11. If it is ratified by the board, it will then go to SAG-AFTRA members for a vote. If members ratify the agreement, the strike will officially end.

The SAG-AFTRA strike has had a significant impact on the Hollywood film and TV industry. Many productions have been delayed or cancelled, and thousands of actors have lost work. The strike has also had a ripple effect on other industries, such as tourism and retail.

The tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP is a positive development for the Hollywood industry. It will allow actors to return to work and studios to resume production. The deal is also a victory for unions, as it shows that workers can stand together to demand fair pay and working conditions.