SAG-AFTRA members are met with something equally alarming, with studios seeking to use their likeness, sometimes in perpetuity. After their deal deadline expired, the AMPTP insisted that SAG-AFTRA was offered a “groundbreaking deal.” Here’s what SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland had to say about it in their strike press conference:
"In that 'groundbreaking' AI proposal, they proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one day's pay, and their companies should own that scan, their image, their likeness, and for people to use it for the rest of eternity in any project they want with no consent and no compensation," he said. "So if you think that's a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again."
The fourth season of the independent Christian series “The Chosen” was among the list of 39 productions approved by SAG-AFTRA to continue filming during its ongoing actors strike.
Projects that are not being produced by a Hollywood studio that is a member of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers may apply to sign an interim agreement that would allow production to continue and for SAG-AFTRA members to perform without being in violation of the strike order. More productions are expected to be approved in the coming weeks.
While distribution rights to the show have been awarded to Lionsgate Television, “The Chosen” gets its budget entirely from crowdfunding, as millions have contributed to the production starring Jonathan Roumie as Jesus of Nazareth. Though the show is available to stream on its own app, millions of fans have turned out to see special engagement theatrical screenings of the show, including a Christmas special that earned $13.7 million at the box office in 2021.
SAG-AFTRA sent a letter to members on Sunday night addressing concerns over projects that are continuing to film during the strike using what’s called an “interim agreement.” The SAG-AFTRA TV and Theatrical Negotiating Committee explained in the letter that interim agreements — which they maintain are not waivers — are granted vetted and approved by the union, and allow productions that agree to terms set by SAG-AFTRA, including the proposals rejected by the AMPTP.
“Make no mistake, we are striking the AMPTP companies only, not independent productions that abide by the terms of our Interim Agreement. It behooves us to make this strategic move,” the letter reads.
The letter continues to say that the interim agreements “give many of our journeyman performers and crews the opportunity to pay their rent and feed their families,” and explains that productions moving forward under these agreements prove to the AMPTP that SAG-AFTRA’s terms are workable.