Humber film students are rejoicing over the tentative agreement between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers following a 150-day strike that brought Hollywood to a halt.
The announcement came in a Sept. 24 email sent to WGA members. The agreement guarantees a minimum number of writers be hired on every show and guarantees comedy-variety writers are paid the same on streaming and TV.
There was also protection for writers from being replaced by artificial intelligence, and writers will be paid additional residuals for increased viewership alongside provisions for higher pay, improved pension and health benefits and script fees.
Noah Landry, a writer, director and actor at Humber College, said the idea of having AI to substitute in the original work of a writer is “stupid.”
“I want to be able to be in something and make money off of that thing, not just have my face plastered in the background,” he said.
“I understand where they’re coming from in terms of wanting to cut production costs because it takes a lot to hire extras, but I still think it’s kind of scummy,” Landry said.
Like Landry, cinematographer Sarah Lemmings agrees artificial intelligence needs to be used sparingly, especially in the film industry.
“I think the use of AI and filmmaking kind of takes away from the humanization of feelings and themes written in the movie,” she said.
“It’s going to inspire other filmmakers to kind of step out of their comfort zone,” Lemmings said.
AI in the filmmaking mix may seem achievable, but Humber College writer and film student Alex Morrison said he believes the industry is a long way from AI replacing screenwriters.
“I write with emotion and I know that studies have been done with AI and it can’t get the same emotion that a human possibly could,” Morrison said. “I think it’s a good thing, we need to be able to have that room for people that are encouraged, to be pushed into film and not to be afraid of AI.”
Gail Haupert, with the Actors Union of Canada, said the recent agreement affects Canadian film students wanting to enter the business.
“The tentative deal that they have is an exceptional one for writers. The most important thing to remember, though, is that Canadian performers in the film and television industry are not on strike,” Haupert said.
Even though SAG-AFTRA and ACTRA are two different acting unions, they have a working relationship in place.
“If they are dual card members, SAG-AFTRA and ACTRA members, the productions shooting here that were tied to SAG-AFTRA contracts are still on pause,” Haupert said, confirming that ACTRA has been able to sit in on the current SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP bargaining since July 13.
Sarah Di Paolo, a writer in Humber’s film program, told Humber News she thinks that her ideas would be considered more and be appreciated should the union agree to remove AI as a suggestion for film writing.
“I’ll get more money for better ideas, which is great,” Di Paolo said.
SAG has also authorized a strike against video game companies, and as of Oct. 4, they will resume talks with the AMPTP about their conditions in hopes of an agreement soon.