SAG-AFTRA Fights for AI Regulation to Protect the Soul of Entertainment (Guest Column)

EXCLUSIVE: Independent films that found it impossible to get bonded or financed this spring and summer with a potential SAG-AFTRA strike looming — as well as new projects that were looking to start after June 30 — now have a shot at moving ahead as the union proceeds with interim agreements.

Kyle C. Olson With the Hollywood writers strike ongoing, there is much focus on fair pay. That fight is overshadowing another critical issue for the creative community: credit attribution. The recent uproar over the credit problems as HBO Max transition to Max highlighted the problem. But it only scratched the surface. Having worked on several high-profile productions lately, I’ve observed a worrying trend: studios increasingly tightening their grip on the awarding of credits, even when the contributions made are unquestionably significant. In the expansive universe of film and television, numerous unseen professionals toil behind the scenes, their collaborative efforts helping to craft captivating stories that awe audiences. Yet, surprisingly, many of these pivotal contributors find their names missing from the closing credits. This glaring oversight begs the question: why is it so difficult to adequately credit everyone involved in a production?

Harrison Ford had the support of some Hollywood legends at the premiere of his new movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny!

Harrison Ford has some strong feelings about bringing his time as Indiana Jones to a close. The actor is opening up about how he feels to see the fifth film in the iconic franchise hit theaters.Ford walked the red carpet at the star-studded premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Wednesday, and he spoke with ET's Cassie DiLaura about the experience.«I'm so proud,» Ford said of the film and the support it received from fans at the event.That being said, the actor admitted that his feelings were «complicated» with regards to how he felt about having played the iconic character of Indiana Jones — which he first portrayed in 1981's -- for his last time.«I'm very grateful that we get to do this and that we've rounded the corner and brought the character full circle,» Ford shared.

The positive response to the Dutch reality series De Verraders has brought different versions of The Traitors to many countries, but executive producer Toni Ireland says the biggest challenge for her was to ensure that the U.S. production stood out in the crowd. Peacock’s The Traitors brings together a group of everyday people and reality TV stars in an elaborate murder-mystery competition hosted by Alan Cumming. Perhaps the biggest change in the U.S. series was in how the game ended, which led to a shocking finale where the group needed to unanimously decide to either trust their fellow finalists and split the money or call for another elimination vote if they believe a traitor is still among them.

Naman Ramachandran Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse” led the U.K. and Ireland box office for the second consecutive weekend with £4 million ($5.1 million), according to numbers from Comscore. The web-slinging animation now has a total of £16.2 million. Paramount’s “Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts” debuted in second place with a healthy £2.9 million. In its third weekend, in second position, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” collected £2.1 million for a total of £19.9 million. In fourth place, another Disney title, “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3” earned £511,837 in its sixth weekend for a total of £35.5 million. Rounding off the top five in its fourth weekend was Universal’s “Fast X” with £475,640 and a total of £14.2 million.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” enjoyed a $38.9 million (RMB276 million) opening weekend in mainland China. The score was comfortably the biggest by any film between Friday and Sunday and the second biggest opening by a Hollywood film this year in the territory. Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway suggests that the film accounted for some 63% of China’s nationwide gross box office over the weekend. Giant screen systems provider, Imax reported that the film earned $5.9 million of the total from its screen network in China, or some 15% of the China total.

Film and television writers from around the world will be picketing and rallying Wednesday in support of the Writers Guild strike, which is now in its 39th day.

SAG-AFTRA and the studios have begun negotiations for a new film and TV contract. The talks, which got underway Wednesday morning at the Sherman Oaks offices of the studios’ reps the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, come two days after the guild’s members voted 97.9% in favor of authorizing a strike if an acceptable deal isn’t reached by the end of the month.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The membership of SAG-AFTRA has voted overwhelmingly to approve a strike authorization, maximizing the guild’s leverage ahead of negotiations that begin on Wednesday. The guild announced Monday night that 97.91% of the voting members supported the authorization. Turnout was 47.69%. The vote comes as the Writers Guild of America strike enters its sixth week. Many SAG-AFTRA members have already joined WGA members walking the picket lines. The leaders of both guilds have expressed solidarity with each other several times this year. The writers strike has caused a sharp downturn in production, especially in television. If SAG-AFTRA goes on strike, any remaining film and TV production would halt immediately. The union represents 160,000 performers.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA congratulated the Directors Guild of America on reaching an agreement with the studios on Sunday, but both groups stressed that the deal does not change their own goals. Both guilds are intent on pushing back against “pattern bargaining,” in which the terms of the DGA deal are typically applied to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. The WGA has been on strike for a month, while SAG-AFTRA begins its negotiations on Wednesday. “Our bargaining strategy has never relied upon nor been dependent on the outcome or status of any other union’s negotiations, nor do we subscribe to the philosophy that the terms of deals made with other unions bind us,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the executive director of SAG-AFTRA, in a statement.

SAG-AFTRA, which begins negotiations for a new contract on Wednesday, said today that its bargaining strategy remains unchanged in the wake of the tentative deal made last night by the Directors Guild and the studios.

SAG-AFTRA members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if upcoming contract talks fail to produce a satisfactory agreement by June 30. The vote revealed Monday was 97.91% in favor, with nearly half of eligible members — 47.69% — casting ballots. According to the union, nearly 65% of eligible members voted.

“Star Wars,” but the blessing of being one of the most famous movie heroes in film history also proved to be a curse when he tried to move his career beyond the galaxy far, far away – and into the 18th century to play composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.Hamill discussed how his career changed dramatically on CBS’ “Sunday Morning,” recalling how he and co-stars Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher were blown away by the immediate success of “Star Wars” in 1977 and seeing fans dressed like their characters, “homemade lightsabers and all.”That popularity got even more intense after “The Empire Strikes Back” was released in 1980, and with it the most famous twist in movie history. At that point, Hamill wanted to stretch his acting muscles and show that there’s more to him than Luke, and so he was cast as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the Tony-winning Broadway play “Amadeus” during its original Broadway run, taking over for original lead actor Tim Curry.

released a memo to members of the actors guild congratulating the Directors Guild of America on reaching a tentative agreement on a new labor contract while noting that such a deal will have no impact on SAG-AFTRA’s own labor talks beginning this week. “Our bargaining strategy has never relied upon nor been dependent on the outcome or status of any other union’s negotiations, nor do we subscribe to the philosophy that the terms of deals made with other unions bind us,” the memo reads.

Two major actors. Two egos. Two ideas of the director and the storyline. Add it up and you have drama, as Harrison Ford related in an Esquire interview.

Before patrons of The Original Beef of Chicagoland ever get their delicious sandwiches from chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) on FX’s The Bear, they have to go through manager Richie Jerimovich—an irritable clodhopper who’s both aggravating and engaging all at the same time. He’s played with affection and reverence by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the blue-eyed breakout best known for his stints on Girls (as Marnie’s husband Desi) and The Punisher (as David Linus  ‘Microchip’ Lieberman, the title character’s ally). Here, Moss-Bachrach talks about making it big on the comedy series from executive producer Christopher Storer (Ramy).

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Harrison Ford is taking some responsibility for the tension that developed with Brad Pitt during the making of their 1997 thriller “The Devil’s Own.” The film, which notably marked the last directorial effort from Alan J. Pakula (“All the President’s Men,” “Klute”), earned mixed reviews but grossed $140 million worldwide. Ford has often said in past interviews that it was difficult filming “The Devil’s Own.” When Esquire magazine recently asked why, Ford said it was due to creative differences he had with Pitt. “Heh. Yeah, I remember why,” Ford said. “Brad developed the script. Then they offered me the part. I saved my comments about the character and the construction of the thing—I admired Brad. First of all, I admire Brad. I think he’s a wonderful actor. He’s a really decent guy. But we couldn’t agree on a director until we came to Alan Pakula, who I had worked with before but Brad had not.”

Sydney Sweeney has quickly become one to watch in Hollywood. The actor was catapulted into the limelight after starring in Euphoria as Cassie Howard, and will be starring in Marvel's Madame Web next year.  The 25 year old was also widely praised for her performance in The White Lotus, where she earned a Primetime Emmy nomination last year in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category.

Harrison Ford has more than just acting skills.