Ray Seilie was recently quoted in an IndieWire article titled “SAG-AFTRA’s AI Deal Shows that Hollywood — for Now — Still Values Human Actors.”
The article describes the recent tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), and particularly the inclusion of twelve provisions related to AI in key areas such as digital replicas, AI training, and the use of synthetic actors. Notably, the new agreement doesn’t scale back on any of the guild’s wins from the previous contract in 2023. As AI continues to evolve, the IndieWire piece notes that SAG-AFTRA remains focused on its mission of proving that real people in front of the screen still matter.
As Ray tells IndieWire, “The fact that the studios aren’t pushing for more exemptions is a sign that Hollywood still relies on real people.” He continues to emphasize that “The studios don’t view real people as dispensable right now. They view them as the necessary core to the production of films. If they didn’t believe that, you would see a lot more pushback.”
While some of the AI provisions in the agreement may be viewed as ambiguous, Ray notes that this is probably a purposeful decision. “I suspect that these provisions are designed to be open ended, vague, and subject to further negotiation, specifically because both sides, frankly, want to leave open the possibility that technology requires them to revisit whatever arrangements they have right now,” Ray concludes.
