SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood studios to resume negotiations

Representatives for Hollywood actors are set to resume negotiations with studios, just hours after a 150-day strike by the Writers Guild of America came to an end. 

The decision to resume negotiations was announced by a joint statement from the Screen Actor's Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and AMPTP (The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) the agency representing major film and television production studios. 

"SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP will resume negotiations for a new TV/Theatrical contract on Monday, October 2," the statement said. "Several executives from AMPTP member companies will be in attendance."

Actors went on strike back in mid-July, nearly two months after WGA members took to the picket lines. They finally reached a deal with studios over the weekend, putting an end to the five-month long strike that was the first step in bringing the entertainment industry to a grinding halt. 

Though negotiations between WGA and AMPTP officials picked up steam last week, finally coming to a head on Sunday, no discussions were noted that involved SAG-AFTRA representatives. 

SAG-AFTRA represents about 160,000 actors. Their demands include general wage increases, protections against the use of actor images through artificial intelligence, boosts in compensation for successful streaming programs and improvements in health and retirement benefits.