SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher took to the stage at Saturday’s SAG Awards ceremony to thank actors union members for their sacrifices during last year’s 118-day strike and warn of challenges ahead.
“I have the utmost respect and the utmost respect for all of you because you are champions,” Drescher told members. “With courage and conviction, you survived the longest strike in our union’s history. That journey was hard. It involved great sacrifice and constant stress. ” Your collective dignity and perseverance in standing up and saying, “We are better, we deserve better,” led to a historic $1 billion deal. ”
While Drescher celebrated his new television/theater deal, which was approved and ratified by 78% of voters in December, the president and star of “The Nanny” is on strike and He also worked on the “global ideas” that arose later. The continuing promise and threat that artificial intelligence poses to the entertainment industry.
In his speech, Drescher took aim at technology companies that develop software like OpenAI’s Sora, accusing them of ignoring the human element of creativity.
“AI will trap us in a matrix and no one will know what is true. If the inventor lacks empathy and spirituality, it is probably not the invention we need.” said Drescher.
Drescher also touched on the topic of women’s leadership. She regularly championed its importance, as she became one of the prominent faces throughout the strike, along with WGA West President Meredith Steem and WGA East President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen.
“What does female leadership look like for women and girls?” Drescher asked. “We don’t have to imitate male energy to lead with intelligence, compassion, and wisdom and still rock red lips!”
SAG-AFTRA’s strike is over, but other unions like IATSE, Teamsters Local 399, and the Animation Guild are all set to negotiate contracts with Hollywood studios, with negotiations starting next month. As such, Hollywood unions will play a major role in the coming months. About the movie industry and pension medical plan conditions.
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