Like a plot from the anthology television series “Black Mirror,” the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is currently engaged in a battle with the studios over control of digital replicas of performers that could potentially be used “for the rest of eternity.” This ongoing dispute has become a significant concern for film and television actors who fear that artificial intelligence (AI) could be utilized to duplicate their voices and likenesses. In an attempt to assert control over the usage of these digital simulations on screen, actors have incorporated this issue into their contract negotiations with the Hollywood studios. Despite recent talks, no agreement has been reached as of Wednesday.
The group negotiating on behalf of major studios and streaming services, including Walt Disney and Netflix, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), claims to have offered a “groundbreaking AI proposal” that aims to protect performers’ digital likeness. The proposed protections would require an actor’s consent before creating and using a digital replica or digitally altering their performance.
Nevertheless, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland disputed the AMPTP’s claim during a press conference in Los Angeles. He expressed his disagreement with the proposal, stating, “They propose that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one day’s work, and their company should own that scan of their image, their likeness, and use it for the rest of eternity. So if you think that’s a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again.”
Responding to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns, the AMPTP clarified that the claim of using the digital replicas of background actors in perpetuity without consent or compensation is false. According to the studios, the current proposal would restrict the use of the digital replica to the specific motion picture for which the background actor is employed. Any additional use would require the actor’s consent and negotiations for compensation, with a minimum payment guaranteed.
Hollywood’s largest union, SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 film and television actors, has announced that its members will go on strike at midnight in response to the ongoing dispute.
(Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by David Gregorio)
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
