Japan Today
entertainment

Actors' union says no agreement on studios' 'final' offer

17 Comments
By Andrew MARSZAL

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2023 AFP

©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.

17 Comments
Login to comment

Normal people are already making Hollywood style movies with AI. It's only time when actors are all AI who do not need to get paid for... acting as it were.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

We could use some fresh faces. How many times can you watch the same people, over and over, not really acting, but just talking lines in their own personality in movie after movie?

Some fresh writing wouldn’t hurt either. Mission Impossible 213. Superheroes 162.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Let new people take on the roles, or have AI do it.

No need for these babies anymore

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Peter NeilToday  01:34 pm JST

We could use some fresh faces. How many times can you watch the same people, over and over, not really acting, but just talking lines in their own personality in movie after movie?

Some fresh writing wouldn’t hurt either. Mission Impossible 213. Superheroes 162.

The pandemic gave Hollyweird a chance to get back to the storyboard and come up with some fresh new ideas. But instead it's teenage Spider-wimp 836, Batcrap Man 1643, the unrealistic and insulting Top Gun 2 (like anybody has a career that long, let alone flying, let alone at the same rank. Gotta please those armchair generals who are pissed about Afghanistan. Yippy-yi-yay, chumps!). Oh yes, on Christmas Day a premeire of a remake of the 'Color Purple'. Just what we needed. Not.

And that concert film by that mouth-gaping no talent Taylor Swift. I saw the 40th anniversary release of the Talking Heads' 'Stop Making Sence' and it's better than it ever was. Will Taylor Swift still be relevant in 40 years? I doubt it.

And more 'Avatar' sequels on the way too. Enough of this garbage! Get some real actors on screen, you know - the ones who went to college and learned how to act!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

mouth-gaping no talent Taylor Swift

For someone who claims to like music, you sure get it badly wrong.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Hey, the New National in Tokyo is doing a reinterpretation of Macbeth, who needs that, right?

I remember watching 'Jesus of Nazareth' thinking "who needs this ?". It's just a remake.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

They weren't writing anything worthy so let them keep picketing in the streets. They ain't necessary.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

I hope it can be resolved soon so we can get back to new programs and movies.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Normal people are already making Hollywood style movies with AI. It's only time when actors are all AI who do not need to get paid for... acting as it were.

I doubt it. AI's wont get stars on Hollywood boulevard, cant do personal appearances. There will not be tours of famous AI actors homes around Hollywood and they will not have the same effect on fans are real people who can attend comic con's around the globe and answer questions from fans.

AI will have its place, to be sure. It is just working out where that place will be. As for ownership of AI's made of real people, the people they are copying must be part owners and have their say and even veto over use in additional projects. The Actors must be compensated fairly. Perhaps 25 years after death such rights can be opened up some, but even then the estate of such actors should still receive payment for AI's that generate huge sums of money, not just the studios getting rich off AI likenesses.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Alan OchoaToday  04:40 pm JST

I'm confused as to why y'all are talking so poorly about the actors and writers. They're not the ones that get to decide what movie is being made, or how a certain script must be written. Don't get me wrong, sometimes their talents do fall short, but they're not the ones deciding to make the 180th superhero movie of the year. These are regular people that continue to hone their craft and want to be fairly compensated for what they bring in revenue. You gotta have worms in your brain to be against that, or just be the average boomer that dislikes anything going on within pop culture for no legitimate reason.

Agree. Though I think in general the writers have more involvement with development of films than actors do, so they could he held a little more accountable especially for the terrible writing.

Some also seem to think every movie is Hollywood produced and that they're all blockbusters. It's ignorant and says a lot about the general movie going public nowadays. They whine about the mindless sequels, remakes, and blockbusters yet have no problem about the many other films that are being cancelled and delayed and blame the actors. Irony at its finest.

This strike affects all films in the US even independent ones that go against popular trends, have some originality, and give us some real art house gems.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

SpeedToday  04:28 pm JST

They weren't writing anything worthy so let them keep picketing in the streets. They ain't necessary.

I believe the writers' union and the studios have settled. It's only the actors now and they don't write the films.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

It's funny. When I mentioned the sameness of the Hollywood movies for other stories, I always was thumbed down. People here are complaining about the strike and suddenly new stories and films are suggested. I agree with all who want something different and better. If there were still original stories like the movie MAS*H and The Graduate and many many others (without 20 "sequels") the movie going audience would have movies to select from. But leave AI out of it. Original scripts and actors who can really act is all that is needed, along with good directors. But it's nice to see so many others who have the right approach to want different kinds of films.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't worry about the most famous actors. I worry about the extras and mid-level actors who we recognize, but seldom have any lead roles, if ever. They have families to raise, mortgages to pay, and appearances to keep too. The new contracts that all the extras as required to sign include signing away their likeness for use for life. That cannot be allowed. Basically, the companies providing real extras are preparing to have 10s of thousands of virtual extras they can provide for essentially zero costs, just the costs of the computers and staff to run those computers. AI being used to steal likenesses (do you post photos to bookface?) is the real danger. Soon, advertising will be full of AI actors who appear close to people we know, but not quite. All those actors will be jobless too.

Just like with genocide, we all need to stand together, even if they aren't coming for your job today, they will be, in the future.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

I'm completely serious about this. Now, if you wish to sell your likeness to be used for a few pennies and never have control over it again, that's up to you. Go for it.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why do ya guys think the studios would do anything different with just a different set of writers or actors?

Ya think the studios don't make these decisions like they have always been?

It's the same studios!

When you and your jobs are replaced by A.I., do ya think your bosses would do anything different? Ya guys so funny, lol

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites