Hollywood Actors Join Writers on Strike over Streaming and AI

At midnight on July 14, 2023, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists officially went on strike against the major studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The union represented roughly 160,000 media performers and broadcast professionals. Walking out alongside the Writers Guild of America, which had already ceased work that May, the actors triggered Hollywood's first joint strike since 1960. The dual work stoppage halted scripted film and television development across the United States, creating the most extensive production interruption the American entertainment sector had faced since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Negotiations had disintegrated over fundamental changes in how media was produced and distributed. With the shift from traditional broadcast schedules toward internet streaming platforms, actors observed a severe decline in residual earnings, which historically supported performers between roles. The union sought general pay increases alongside a structured model for streaming residuals. Crucially, performers demanded stringent boundaries on generative artificial intelligence, fearing studios could scan actors' appearances and regenerate their likenesses indefinitely without fair compensation or explicit approval. Studio representatives resisted these requirements, maintaining that existing agreements adequately protected performers while preserving commercial viability.