Hollywood A-List Actors Make Offer To Help End Actors Strike

George Clooney confirmed a meeting with SAG-AFTRA leaders, offering a proposal that would bring over $150 million to the union over the next three years.

(Far Left) George Clooney in Universal Pictures' 'Ticket to Paradise.' (Center Left) Emma Stone in 'Gangster Squad.' Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. (Center Right) Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in 'Air.' Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios. © Amazon Content Services LLC. (Far Right) Scarlett Johansson in Marvel Studios' 'Black Widow.' Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

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Hollywood top earners meet with SAG-AFTRA leaders, offering to remove the cap on membership dues
The actors are asking for better work conditions and pay, including residuals from streaming services and protection from AI
The AMPTP and SAG walked away from the table on October 11, unable to come to an agreement on a deal

The biggest stars in Hollywood may have a solution to help end the actors' strike, offering to remove the $1 million cap on membership dues, as well as a “bottom-up” residual structure to help actors lower on the call sheet to be paid first.

George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Tyler Perry, And More Spoke With SAG-AFTRA Leaders

George Clooney and Tiffany Boone on the set of Netflix's 'The Midnight Sky.'

Deadline has learned exclusively that some of the top-paid actors in Hollywood met with SAG-AFTRA leaders on Tuesday to find a way to end the actors strike. George Clooney, who spoke with Deadline, confirms the meeting:

‘A lot of the top earners want to be part of the solution,” the two-time Oscar winner told Deadline. “We’ve offered to remove the cap on dues, which would bring over $50 million to the union annually. Well over $150 million over the next three years. We think it’s fair for us to pay more into the union. We also are suggesting a bottom-up residual structure — meaning the top of the call sheet would be the last to collect residuals, not the first. These negotiations will be ongoing, but we wanted to show that we’re all in this together and find ways to help close the gap on actors getting paid.”

Alongside Clooney, stars such as Tyler Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds, Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Stone, Bradley Cooper, Laura Dern, and Kerry Washington were a part of Tuesday’s Zoom meeting (via THR).

SAG-AFTRA leaders have brought the offer to the negotiating committee.

The SAG-AFTRA Strike Has Been Going For Over 98 Days

SAG-AFTRA members Nia Vardalos and Octavia Spencer walk the line at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA on 9/20. Photo courtesy of SAG.

The SAG-AFTRA strike began on July 14, 2023, and has been ongoing for over 98 days. The actors are seeking a new deal for better work conditions and wages as well as residuals, especially since streaming has changed the landscape of entertainment. They also seek protection from the use of AI, something that can replicate an actor’s likeness and performance.

The strike has caused a significant pause in the entertainment industry, along with the WGA strike, which began on May 2, 2023. Recently, the WGA has reached an agreement with the AMPTP after a grueling 148 days. Due to the SAG strike, the actors are prohibited from doing promotion or publicity work for any struck projects, meaning they cannot appear on red carpets for premieres or take part in interviews. All production is halted, with the exception of a production where an interim agreement has been approved by SAG-AFTRA.

The negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP paused on October 11, without reaching a deal.