Hundreds of SAG-AFTRA members gathered with native unions to rally within the Boston Common on Wednesday afternoon, practically one month into the actors strike.
“I am the actor everyone’s talking about — a lot of us are out here,” mentioned Megan Carroll, a New England SAG-AFTRA actor, talking to a rallying crowd within the Boston Common. “We’re the ones who are not making enough money to get our health insurance. We’re the ones who have been scanned already for AI. I have been scanned for AI already. This is why I decided to strike.”
The actor’s rally featured speeches from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, TV host Tom Bergeron, and plenty of consultant of SAG-AFTRA and different unions emphasizing the significance of a good contract for the actors.
The union, which represents about 160,000 members together with actors, announcers, hosts, stunt performers, voiceover artists and extra, has been on strike since July 14. The labor dispute has centered on points together with wage and advantages, protections associated to the usage of AI and adjusted residual funds within the age of streaming.
“Most SAG-AFTRA members are living paycheck to paycheck,” mentioned Sen. Warren. “Many work second and third jobs in order to make ends meet. More than 80% of members can’t meet the $26,500 income threshold to make them eligible for health care benefits. And meanwhile, greedy greedy network executives are raking in millions.”
Many within the crowd famous they’ve already been “scanned for AI,” that means they may doubtlessly get replaced with digital copies of their likeness. In negotiations with studios, audio system mentioned, they’re trying to give actors protections from this form of use of the creating expertise.
“AI is, I feel, the front runner,” mentioned Billy Brannigan, an actor from Connecticut. “It is scary. Just the thought of being so replaceable.”
Brannigan and others famous that whereas it’s tough being out of labor through the strike, they’re devoted to preventing for his or her rights — carrying indicators and chanting enthusiastically.
“There has been nothing but support from all our brothers and sisters,” mentioned Kayla Caulfield, a Massachusetts actor who appeared within the movie Coda. “Boston’s a very tight knit community, and we all support one another.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”