Striking Hollywood Actors Resume Contract Negotiations with Studios and Networks, Reports Reuters

By Steve Gorman and Dawn Chmielewski

LOS ANGELES – Negotiators for striking Hollywood actors resumed contract discussions on Monday with representatives from major studios, television networks, and streaming services. This marked the first time both sides returned to the negotiation table since mid-July.

The renewed discussions between the SAG-AFTRA actors union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) came just eight days after the producers finalized a separate contract agreement with Hollywood writers, who began their strike on May 2, approximately ten weeks before the actors.

Both parties reported completing a full day of bargaining, with a joint statement noting that discussions would continue on Wednesday. However, they agreed to maintain a news "blackout" during the talks, meaning no further details were immediately available.

The tentative agreement reached on September 24 between the producers and the Writers Guild of America, which represents 11,500 members, paved the way for ending their labor dispute just three days later. This agreement may serve as a template for resolving the actors’ strike.

SAG-AFTRA, the largest union in Hollywood representing 160,000 television and film performers, went on strike on July 14, demanding higher base wages and residual payments from streaming services, as well as regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the industry. Similar issues were central to the writers’ strike.

Actors are particularly focused on ensuring that their images and work are protected from replacement by computer-generated "digital replicas." They are also seeking compensation that accurately reflects the value they add in the growing streaming sector, proposing revenue-sharing models.

Additional actors’ demands include limits on the use of self-taped auditions, which they argue are more expensive than traditional in-person readings. They are also advocating for increased racial equity on set, including the availability of hair and makeup artists proficient in working with diverse hair textures and skin tones.

The resumption of contract talks coincided with the return of late-night television hosts, such as Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel, to their shows on Monday. Comedian John Oliver also returned to HBO’s "Last Week Tonight" on Sunday.