As a seasoned film enthusiast with decades of industry experience under my belt, I find myself deeply concerned about the recent developments at The Animation Guild. Having witnessed the evolution of animation from traditional hand-drawn techniques to digital wonders, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and passion that goes into each frame.
As a passionate movie aficionado, I’m here today to shed some light on an important development in the world of animation. The Animation Guild has recently disclosed the details of their new contract with major studios. However, I must clarify that despite our best efforts, we found ourselves unable to implement more robust measures to safeguard against artificial intelligence encroaching upon our creative domain.
After a three-month negotiation period, the union that represents approximately 5,000 animators, technicians, and writers reached a preliminary accord on November 23rd. This agreement incorporates certain safeguards concerning artificial intelligence, although it does not permit animators to bypass using AI if their job necessitates it, nor can they prohibit their work from being employed to educate or train AI models.
Following the publication of the agreement on Tuesday evening, some individuals voiced their dissatisfaction with the terms. Shion Takeuchi, the brainchild behind the Netflix series “Inside Job,” contends that the deal lacks meaningful safeguards against artificial intelligence.
She stated via text, ‘Under this agreement, the studios have no restrictions against reducing staff.’ She expressed her concern, saying, ‘To them, we’re just property.’
The deal doesn’t stipulate minimal workforces for animators and artisans, an important point of contention, but it does ensure a minimum of three scriptwriters for animated television series, with some allowable exceptions.
The agreement additionally offers substantial advantages across various job sectors, like the establishment of “fair pay” for color designers, a field that has historically been predominantly female.
Teri Hendrich Cusumano, a union vice president and member of the negotiation team, stated, ‘We gave it our all.’ The negotiations were protracted and intense, she added, ‘It seemed like we extracted every concession possible at the table. Frankly, there wasn’t much more to be gained.’
The accord emerges during a general downturn across the industry, accompanied by widespread concerns about artificial intelligence and offshoring. The union has released documents expressing concern that AI might result in “massive job losses.
As a dedicated member of the guild’s negotiation team and AI task force, I shared that the agreement necessitates prior notice and consultation. This way, fellow members can make an informed decision about joining a project that leverages artificial intelligence with full transparency.
Tung stated that he’s aiming for the most favorable agreement possible given his current resources. He wishes he had more information, but under the circumstances, he believes this is the best negotiation we can achieve at this time.
Now, the members need to cast their votes on approving the deal. Some members might voice their concerns and potentially question the leadership during a sequence of online forums or town halls. However, it remains uncertain whether there’s sufficient dissatisfaction among the group to jeopardize the approval process.
In a conversation, everyone seems frustrated and deeply worried about their prospects of earning a livable income in one of the nation’s priciest cities, Takeuchi remarked. I’ve encountered executives who have openly discussed using AI to potentially automate storyboarding, thereby eradicating an entire profession, without any hesitation.
Some individuals have advocated for an immediate prohibition of AI use within animation, a stance some perceive as comparable to copyright infringement. However, in a Q&A session, the guild stated that implementing such a restriction wouldn’t have been feasible.
The union explained that it wouldn’t be feasible to prohibit GenAI from being used in member studios for several reasons. Firstly, the producers would likely oppose such a restriction. Secondly, if GenAI were banned, the work might instead go to non-union workers, who wouldn’t have the benefits and protections provided by a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Over the past year, the Alliance for Film and Television Production – a group that negotiates for studios – has struck deals on AI matters with various unions, including those representing directors, screenwriters, actors, musicians, and technical workers behind the scenes.
According to the Animation Guild, no entertainment union has succeeded in completely banning the use of General Artificial Intelligence in their protections, as stated in their FAQ.
The Animation Guild, being an affiliate of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, secured AI safeguards in their agreement reached in June. This protection package included a clause stating that workers who lose their jobs because of AI technology will be eligible for severance pay and further training opportunities.
In August, the Animation Guild initiated discussions to strengthen their agreement, focusing on adding extra safeguards for animators. They aimed to give members the choice to refuse AI training, and prohibit studios from making AI usage a requirement for employment. However, the AMPTP reportedly found this proposal unacceptable, causing it to be withdrawn.
The guild persisted with their “work terms” proposal throughout negotiations, but the producers refused to yield, according to the union’s FAQ. Last year, the Writers Guild of America managed to secure such a condition, however, the Animation Guild found themselves restricted by an old agreement that permits producers to make “technical adjustments.
Instead, a clause was included that requires studios to provide written notification if artificial intelligence is intended for a specific role.
Roma Murphy, a member of the negotiation team and a writer, stated that we couldn’t simply instruct studios not to use this software. Our influence was limited to what we could ask our members to do. Consequently, our focus was more on setting boundaries or guidelines, rather than trying to halt the widespread adoption of GenAI in the industry.
The union additionally included a clause ensuring that AI usage wouldn’t impact wages or credits, much like a provision secured by the WGA last year. For the most part, the AI conditions mirror those found in the IATSE Standard Contract.
Legal ambiguity persists regarding the copyright of works produced by AI, prompting union officials to seek judicial and legislative intervention as a means of safeguarding creative professionals.
Julia Prescott, a member of the negotiation team with a writing background, expressed her ongoing apprehension regarding the potential risks AI might bring to Hollywood, particularly in the animation sector. However, she also shared optimism that the agreement could imply that producers would be unable to employ AI without informing the workforce first. This, she believes, could shed light on this critical issue.
“That sets the table for us to continue fighting,” she said.
The union presented demanding proposals for a minimum staff size in total, remaining firm on this point throughout negotiations, as stated in the FAQ. However, they were ultimately successful in securing just a three-writer minimum, which could be bypassed if a single writer or collaborative writing team is brought on to pen an entire production.
This contract likewise offers salary boosts of 7%, 4%, and 3.5%, which are the same as the ones previously secured by SAG-AFTRA and IATSE.
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2024-12-05 01:56