“A great negotiation ends up with everybody being a little unhappy.”
So why are negotiations taking so long?
“It’s a huge issue for all of us and the repercussions are vast,” she says.
“So to me, it makes sense that everyone needs to take their time.
There are also many in that room who are deeply connected to the process.
So there is such a wide variety of agendas at play.
Hale was on the SAG-AFTRA committee in 2016 when it negotiated the Interactive Media Agreement renewal previously.
But, she explains, there’s an important difference this time around.
They can each talk to their attorney, and then the attorneys talk to each other.
Still, 2016 was nine years ago and, as Hale points out, times have changed since then.
“I think it’s absolutely critical to pay attention to the context that we’re now negotiating in.
It’s so vastly different from the last negotiation,” she says.
“The world is so much more polarised.
A great negotiation ends up with everybody being a little unhappy.
I think it’s really important that we all remember, that is the definition of compromise.
We’re not in there to get our way.
We’re in there to protect our future.”
So what is it that actors want out of this negotiation?
Hale puts it succinctly: “ownership over our own voices”.
Hale echoes those feelings now.
“We need to be able to control when our voice is used,” she says.
“And if you take my voice without my permission, that’s theft.”
In 2023, Equity launched a “ground-breaking AI toolkit” to protect performers.
Why, then, has that interim agreement not transferred to a proper agreement?
It’s because of the fine print, says Hale.
“You don’t write rules of the road for most sensible, considerate people.
You write them for the ones who are going to drink-drive and take somebody out.”
And she believes humans need to take responsibility.
“AI is a tool, like a hammer,” she says.
We cannot blame the tool.”
She surmises: “Everything has a price, shortcuts included.”
Tools to mimic and use video game characters have already been used bymodders creating non-consensual deepfake content.
“For me, it comes down to two phrases,” Hale says.
“‘Don’t be a jerk’.”
And also “Does your mother know what you’re doing?
Could you do it in front of them?
Then don’t freaking do it.”
Still, Hale is positive about the future of her profession.
That’s in part due toservices like Ethovox- set up by actor Cissy Jones - to safeguard performers.
Indeed, Hale believes AI and acting can absolutely coexist.
“I think AI has incredible potential for actors of all flavours…
I think there’s a wonderful partnership to be worked out,” she says.
“As long as everyone’s sharing the benefits.
“What gets you in a game is that feeling you get.
I’m not worried.”
