Animation Guild's Hollywood Talks: Shielding Artists from AI Impact

Published Date::05/10/2024

The Animation Guild is seeking protections from generative AI, pay equity, and guardrails from subcontracting in its negotiations with studios and streaming companies.

The Animation Guild, a chapter of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, is currently negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over issues including generative AI, pay equity, and subcontracting. The union, which represents 6,000 animators, technicians, writers, and production workers, is seeking protections from AI replacing union work, as well as staffing minimums and protections from outsourcing.

According to a report released by the Animation Guild last month, its members' top concern is keeping generative AI from replacing union work. Brandon Jarratt, a technical director at Walt Disney Animation Studios, said that animation workers are worried about their work being used to train AI models without their consent. The union's AI task force wants to regulate how AI is used in animation, rather than rejecting it wholesale.

AI is not the sole concern for animators - they're also worried about their work being outsourced or turned into freelance work. Dan Salgarolo, an animation writer, said that he's seen the number of full-time writing jobs decrease over the past eight years. Lew Morton, the executive producer and writer for Beavis and Butt-Head, used his own show as an example of how outsourcing can affect the quality of animation.

The Animation Guild has been negotiating with the AMPTP since August, and has extended its contract through November 1. While progress has been made on some fronts, the two sides are still far apart on some issues.

FAQS:

Q: What is the main concern of the Animation Guild in its negotiations with the AMPTP?

A: The main concern of the Animation Guild is keeping generative AI from replacing union work.

Q: What is the Animation Guild seeking in its negotiations with the AMPTP?

A: The Animation Guild is seeking protections from generative AI, pay equity, and guardrails from subcontracting.

Q: How has the use of AI affected the animation industry?

A: The use of AI has raised concerns about job replacement and the outsourcing of work.

Q: What is the Animation Guild's stance on AI?

A: The Animation Guild's AI task force wants to regulate how AI is used in animation, rather than rejecting it wholesale.

Q: What is the current state of the negotiations between the Animation Guild and the AMPTP?

A: The negotiations are ongoing, with progress made on some fronts, but the two sides are still far apart on some issues.

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