Avsnitt
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SAG-AFTRA member Harrison Ford has spent nearly seven decades as one of Hollywood's most beloved actors, but he'd still rather be called a working actor than an icon. This year, Ford was honored with the union's 61st Life Achievement Award at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA on March 1. In this episode, we listen back to an Actor to Actor conversation with Ford and SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin. The two talk about Ford's early studio contract years at Columbia and Universal, his quiet standoff with Ridley Scott while shooting Blade Runner, and what's kept him showing up for the work all these years later. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.
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Performance capture has evolved from an experimental filmmaking technique to a fundamental part of modern entertainment. But despite how common it's become, there's still a lot of misunderstanding about what performance capture actually is and what it means for actors who work in this space. To break it all down, we're joined by Woody Schultz, a SAG-AFTRA National Board Member and Vice Chair of the National AI and Technology Committee. Schultz has been at the forefront of performance capture since its early days, working on groundbreaking films like The Polar Express, Avatar and Monster House. He talks about how the technology works, why "motion capture" misses the point, the long fight to win union protections and what new AI technologies could mean for the future. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.
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The NO FAKES Act heads to a Senate Judiciary Committee markup and vote on June 11, 2026. This is a moment three years in the making and the closest this bill has come to becoming law. Right now, anyone's face or voice can be cloned and dropped into a video they never agreed to, and most people have far fewer legal rights to stop it than they think. The NO FAKES Act would change that. To break down what the bill actually does, we're joined by SAG-AFTRA LA Local President and the SAG-AFTRA Government Affairs & Public Policy Committee (GAPP) Co-Chair Joely Fisher; actor-producer and GAPP Committee Co-chair Jason George and SAG-AFTRA Chief Legal Officer Jeffrey Bennett. They explain the new federal right NO FAKES would create in your voice and likeness, the fast "take down and stay down" process that would force platforms to remove unauthorized replicas and the built-in First Amendment protections. They also discuss the unusually broad coalition behind the bill and how you can support this at sagaftra.org/nofakes. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.
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One of the biggest movie surprises of 2026 has been the sci-fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary. Actor, puppeteer and puppet designer James Ortiz joins the show to discuss his groundbreaking performance as the five-legged alien Rocky in the film. James shares his journey from landing the role with a homemade puppet audition to building on-set chemistry with Ryan Gosling, describing how what began as a job focused on puppeteering evolved into one of the most talked-about performances of the year. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.
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Earlier this month, SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP reached a tentative agreement on a successor contract to the 2023 TV/Theatrical Contracts covering motion pictures, scripted primetime dramatic television, streaming content and new media. This agreement builds on our historic gains while securing the future for our members. In this roundtable discussion, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and SAG-AFTRA Chief Contract Officer Ray Rodriguez discuss the headline achievements of this tentative agreement. Topics include: the historic pension and retirement plan merger, comprehensive AI protections for digital replicas and synthetics, increases in residuals and the streaming bonus fund, and what it means for working performers. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.
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In March, SAG-AFTRA hosted The 32nd Annual Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA, which streamed live on Netflix from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The show has been honoring outstanding performances in film and television for 32 years as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®, but this year marked the first ceremony under its new name. The night was a roaring success with some truly memorable and funny moments, thanks in no small part to an incredible production team. To take us behind the curtain and share some insider stories, we're joined by three people who made it all happen: Jon Brockett, showrunner and executive producer; Russell Norman, the show's director; and Steven Murphy, our head writer. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.
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SAG-AFTRA's first collective bargaining agreement for intimacy coordinators took effect on Feb. 22, marking a watershed moment for a profession that didn't exist 15 years ago. The contract establishes industry-wide standards for the professionals who safeguard performers during intimate scenes. But what exactly does an intimacy coordinator do, and why does this agreement matter for every performer working today? We spoke with Alicia Rodis, Chair of the Intimacy Coordinator Negotiating Committee and a working IC whose credits include And Just Like That, The Gilded Age, and The Last Mrs. Parrish. Alicia discusses the critical protections now guaranteed under the agreement. She also addresses performer concerns about working with ICs and makes the case for why these professionals protect not just the performers in intimate scenes, but the entire crew. **The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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Latino performers face a persistent gap between their presence in the entertainment industry and their representation in actual roles. Typecasting, stereotyping, and limited opportunities remain real challenges. But there's also progress happening, and the union is fighting to accelerate change. We spoke to three SAG-AFTRA members leading this fight: Hector Garcia, National Board member and Co-Vice Chair of the National Latino Committee; Natalia Castellanos, Chair of the National Latino Committee; and Vanessa Morales, Co-Vice Chair of the National Latino Committee. They discuss where Latino representation stands today and why something as simple as updating your member profile matters more than you might think. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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As we celebrate Women's History Month this March, we're recognizing not just the trailblazers of the past, but the women who are shaping our industry's future right now. In this episode, we share a powerful conversation that took place last November at our L.A. Local Women's Committee's second annual roundtable. Seven remarkable SAG-AFTRA members came together to discuss the real challenges women face in our industry—from stereotypes and ageism to gender bias. And more importantly, how we're confronting them together. The panel was moderated by Elyssa Phillips and included Tiffany Yvonne Cox, Frances Fisher, Ever Carradine, Minita Gandhi, Jessy Yates and Alisa Reyes. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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We've all seen the headlines about A.I. and wondered what it all means for your career. There's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about what AI synthetics can actually accomplish. Writer-director and Emmy-winning creator Sergio Cilli, decided to find out by auditioning them. In his viral video series "Will AI Actors Replace Us?!," which has reached 45 million views, Sergio puts AI synthetics through typical audition scenarios and watches them fail spectacularly at basic tasks like loading a dishwasher or performing emotional scenes. He joins the show to discuss how humor helps performers process anxiety about A.I., and why directors still prefer working with humans over robots. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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AI-generated content and deepfakes are rewriting the rules of creative ownership. So what are writers, artists, and performers doing about it? In this panel discussion from the AI House at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland joined multidisciplinary artist Emi Kusano and MIT Technology Review Editor-in-Chief Mat Honan for a discussion about how performers secured contract protections for digital replicas, how artists are using AI ethically in their own creative practice, and how journalists are setting boundaries around AI-generated content in newsrooms. The panel was moderated by Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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SAG-AFTRA's 2025 commercials contracts delivered groundbreaking A.I. provisions, but what do they actually mean for you? Tracy Hyman, Executive Director of Commercials Contracts, and actor and negotiating committee member Nicole Cyrille break down exactly how digital replicas and synthetic performances work, when you need to give consent, how you get paid and what guardrails are in place to protect you. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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Duncan Crabtree-Ireland sits down with journalist Matt Belloni from Puck at CES in Las Vegas for a no-holds-barred conversation about the future of A.I. and entertainment. Matt asks the tough questions: Why should A.I. companies care what unions think? How is artificial intelligence reshaping creative work? What happens if there's another strike? Duncan breaks down what SAG-AFTRA won in 2023, what's at stake in the upcoming February negotiations, and why the distinction between humans and A.I. algorithms really matters. They tackle studio deals with OpenAI, deepfakes, synthetic performances, and whether the unions are playing defense or leading the charge. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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Diane Warren is one of the most successful and prolific songwriters in music history — and a proud SAG-AFTRA member. Her catalog includes many of the biggest pop songs of the past several decades. In this episode, she talks about the relentless drive behind her career, her new documentary and the early challenges that shaped her voice as a writer. Diane shares how she "casts" artists to bring her songs to life and why no form of A.I. can match the soul behind a truly human song. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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SAG-AFTRA's top three national officers — President Sean Astin, Executive Vice President Linda Powell and Secretary-Treasurer Michelle Hurd — sit down together with National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland during the 23rd International Federation of Actors (FIA) Congress in Birmingham, England last month. They discuss the power of global solidarity, the challenges facing performers across borders, and how issues like A.I., self-tapes, DEI, and workplace safety are shaping the next era of the industry. They also reflect on their paths to leadership and the unexpected moments that come with guiding a union of this size and influence. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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In the first part of our interview with legendary director James Cameron, he explained his actor-driven approach to performance capture and why human nuance is still at the core of great storytelling. In this second half, Cameron goes deeper into the promises and risks of A.I., where he believes the line sits between helpful innovation and harmful replacement. He talks about what Hollywood must stand guard over as these tools accelerate. And yes, he talks about Skynet and why The Terminator feels a lot less hypothetical today than it did in 1984. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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James Cameron has spent four decades pushing filmmaking technology forward, but at the core of his work is something deeply human. In this video, the Oscar-winning director of Terminator, Aliens, Titanic and the Avatar films (Avatar: Fire and Ash opens December 19) talks about why performance capture is the "purest form of cinema acting," why he refuses to use generative A.I. for scripts and actors' performances, and how safety and trust guide every set he runs. The man who dreamed up Skynet also explains what kind of A.I. boundaries the industry urgently needs to put in place. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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In the second half of our conversation, newly elected SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin opens up about lessons from the 2023 strike, the challenges of member communication and his goals for the next round of TV/Theatrical negotiations. Sean also reflects on what his most iconic roles — from Rudy to The Lord of the Rings — have taught him about leadership and fighting for what's right. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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Sean Astin has spent most of his life in front of the camera starring in beloved films like The Goonies, Rudy, and The Lord of the Rings — and behind the scenes as a committed advocate for SAG-AFTRA and its members. Now he's leading our union as its newly elected president. In Part 1 of this 2-part conversation with SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Sean talks about what this moment means to him, how his mother Patty Duke's presidency shaped him, and why he sees this role as "identity shaping." He also shares his vision for the next chapter of the union, including a deep focus on health and pension plans, A.I., and modernizing the member experience. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
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Auditions are part of every performer's journey, but that doesn't mean they come naturally. The process can feel overwhelming, especially with the rise of self-taping. How can performers approach auditions with less stress and more confidence? SAG-AFTRA members Nikki Dixon and Wes Jetton join the podcast to share their best advice for staying grounded and enjoying the process. They talk about how to prepare without over-rehearsing, the importance of letting go after you hit send and why mindset and flexibility matter more than perfection. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.
- Visa fler
