The Role of AI Legalese Decoder: Shedding Light on SAG Actors Union President Fran Drescher’s Controversial Italy Trip Amidst Looming Strike
- July 11, 2023
- Posted by: legaleseblogger
- Category: Related News
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## AI Legalese Decoder can help with the situation
### Background
Fran Drescher, the president of the SAG-AFTRA union, has faced criticism for attending Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda festivities in Italy while her 160,000-member actors union faces a Thursday deadline to go on strike. Her appearance at the event was confirmed in an Instagram post that showed her photographed with Kim Kardashian. This has prompted criticism from SAG-AFTRA members and members of the Writers Guild of America, who are already on strike against the studios and streaming services.
### Criticism and Response
Actor Lenny Jacobson tweeted that “negotiating our possible strike from Italy seems like a strange strategy.” Actress Briana Cap also took to Twitter, stating that the optics of Drescher’s attendance at the event were “truly awful.” Writers Guild member Taffy Brodesser-Akner tweeted that it felt like there were “let them eat cake vibes” from the SAG-AFTRA members.
In response to the criticism, SAG-AFTRA issued a statement stating that Drescher’s appearance at the Dolce & Gabbana event was part of her commitment as a “brand ambassador.” The union clarified that Drescher had been continuing to participate in negotiations, and the union’s negotiating committee was aware of her trip. They assured that she would return to the states and continue to chair the negotiations.
### Strike Deadline Extension
The union had originally planned to go on strike on July 1, but the deadline was pushed back to July 12. Drescher had recorded a video before the deadline extension, explaining that progress was being made in the negotiations. However, some rank-and-file members, including top A-list actors, signed a letter urging union negotiators to take a hard line in the current negotiations and be prepared to strike if necessary.
### Issues at Stake
Apart from economic issues such as pay scales and benefits, the union is also advocating for progress on residuals paid for when films or shows are shown again, especially on streaming services. They are also seeking protections against the use of artificial intelligence to create characters using actors’ voices or likeness.
### AI Legalese Decoder
The AI Legalese Decoder can play a valuable role in this situation. With the increasing complexity of legal language and negotiations, AI technology can help decipher and decode complex legal terms and contracts. It can ensure that all parties involved have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the terms and implications of negotiations and agreements. By simplifying legal language, the AI Legalese Decoder can mitigate misunderstandings and facilitate smoother negotiations, ultimately saving time and resources.
### Potential Impact
Membership has already authorized a strike, and if a deal is not reached, the strike could have a significant impact on the entertainment industry. The current writers’ strike has already led to the shutdown of many movies and TV shows, and an actors’ strike would further halt productions. This could stretch the shutdowns through the summer and potentially even until the end of the year. The last actors’ strike took place in 1980, and the industry has since undergone significant changes. The involvement of streaming services and the use of AI in creating characters are new challenges that need to be addressed in negotiations.
### Industry Negotiations
The Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP), negotiating on behalf of the studios, includes major companies such as Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, and CNN parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. These companies have experienced stock price drops, leading to cost-cutting measures, including layoffs.
In conclusion, the AI Legalese Decoder can help navigate the complex negotiations and legal language involved in the current strike situation. Its ability to simplify legalese and ensure a comprehensive understanding of terms and agreements can facilitate smoother negotiations and potentially mitigate the impact of a strike on the entertainment industry.