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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why is there a problem with AI but not CGI? They use CGI to make crowds bigger thus taking jobs away from extras. They’ve been “AI’ing” for a long time.

The workers should have health insurance of some form.

Companies with pensions are very few if not completely gone.

[b]How many companies continue to pay their employees for the work done 1 year ago, 5, 10? It’s usually pay and done.[/b]

Their complaints are no different than all workers in US.

[/quote]

Exactly. CGI has meant the end of tons of jobs in the industry and resulted in the off-shoring of a lot of work out of the US. This has been going on for years. Streaming platforms have different economics than the studios. [b]Why should actors get residuals when nobody (advertisers) is paying that bill. [/b]I don't care one way or another, but, SAG saying that most of their members make less than $26,000 per year is a straw man argument. $26,000 a year is not full time work in this country. And there are many, many SAG members who do not consider themselves full time actors. If you are only making $26,000 a year, you need to get another job to supplement (or find a new career).[/quote]

First, residuals are a boon to the studios--[b]means they can pay workers less upfront and adjust what the actors get based on future success of the tv show/movie. Without them, the studios would have to pay day actors and non-star regulars way more for shows that are flops.[/b]

Secondly, OF COURSE the bill is being paid--through licensing and subscription fees.

[/quote]

Thank you, PP. At last, someone who understands why residuals actually benefit the studios paying them more than they benefit the actors receiving them. There is so much misinformation and ignorance on this thread about how pay for actors (and writers) actually functions. [/quote]

Do you get paid for work you did 3 years ago?[/quote]

Did YOU read the post explaining exactly how residuals work, and how over time residuals actually SAVE the studios money and end up paying actors (and writers) less and less while the studios make more and more money? Residuals are not new. They do not work like your paycheck does. Go back, read that post, read some coverage of the strike issues, and try to grasp that not every industry pays people in the way you are paid. [/quote]

Perhaps actors should not depend on residuals but get a one time bigger payment for their services.[/quote]

This is one of the reasons that the actors are striking.  Residuals actually favor the studio/streaming service.  If you agree to pay people 1/10 the salary but give them residuals, then you only end up paying residuals for shows that actually succeed and you save money.  You'll only end up paying residuals for the really successful shows.  This is the perfect model for the content owners.  They pay a small amount up front and only pay the true worth for all of the staff and supporting artists on the shows that succeed.  In general, you need a show to be successful and in syndication or in reruns for more than 5 years post-run for residuals to catch up to reasonable up front salaries.  For the majority of supporting staff, they will never see the amount that they would have to be paid if it were paid a reasonable amount up front.  Your small daily rate, plus small residuals rarely come above 60% of what you could get if you were paid a reasonable amount up front.  I mean would you rather be paid $400-500 per day once?  Or would you rather get paid $125-150 per day up front and get monthly residuals of $3-5?  That's the type of deal that they were being given.  So those series that die, have no residuals.  Those that are okay and maybe get rerun or hit syndication and get an extra season or two of play?  Those actors will get like another $120 over the syndication run.  But they'll get it every month for 24-30 months.

The actors would love to get reasonable daily rates that were standard in the union.  Get their money up front when they work rather than get 25% of the value of their work up front and maybe get another 5-10% a year in the future if the show is popular enough in syndication.  Instead, they are stuck with the residual package.  And that only bound studios and networks.  Streaming services were never bound by the residual practice.  So they are not offering it.  And they are just pocketing the profits by hiring at union standard rates that are below market value.   And this is what the picketers are protesting.  Either use the existing residual model for real (really?  Paying pennies every month?  The studios are spending more in postage than they are paying the extras) or pay real salaries.  That is what they are striking for.[/quote]

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