Imagine a scenario where your face, voice, and body become accessible to anyone anywhere for any purpose without your knowledge or consent. Imagine a digital copy of yourself that looks and sounds just like you. You would lack control or consent over your identity and its usage in this imagined reality. It’s unsettling, isn’t it? Well, the Hollywood actors’ union (SAG-AFTRA) is currently on strike, at least partly, for this very issue. Eerily, there is an episode of a popular series on Netflix that kind of did predict this happening.

The first episode of the sixth season of Black Mirror, explored this premise. An episode titled Joan Is Awful, featured Salma Hayek as ‘Joan’, a famous actress that signed away her rights to her AI likeness. She found out that a production company could use her digital double for any project they want, without her knowledge or consent. And they did exactly that. They released a show that featured Joan’s activities and exposed her hidden secrets, imperfections, and missteps. Desperate to regain control over her image, she tried to halt the show’s production, only to realize that she no longer possessed any authority over how she was portrayed.

This episode exhibited striking similarities to the SAG-AFTRA strike within the entertainment industry. A key concern of actors is the increasing influence of AI and deepfakes. They fear that studios could exploit their faces and voices through replication without their consent or fair compensation. 

Additionally, the striking actors strive to safeguard their individuality, public image, and professional rights as performers. They seek to control their likeness and earn money from it. Above all, the actors aim to avoid experiencing a fate like Joan’s scenario where she unknowingly lost her rights.

Actors and writers are not the only ones who are bearing the brunt. The entirety of Hollywood lies at a standstill now.

Studios vs. SAG-AFTRA: How it is Consuming Hollywood

The SAG-AFTRA strike coincides with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike and is the first time in six decades that both writers and actors are on strike together. Hollywood is worried by the scenario, as many upcoming projects that were scheduled for or already in production have to be stopped. A potential crisis is that Hollywood will lose both money and box-office hold if no resolution happens and no new streaming content or blockbuster movie will come out from American soil.

Many Netflix and other streaming productions, along with hugely anticipated movies like Deadpool 3, could be delayed owing to the strike. Notably, many big-name actors have also joined the protest. Recently, the cast of massively acclaimed director Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer skipped its London premiere to join the SAG-AFTRA strike. Many big productions now face uncertain fates and numbers unless a resolution happens soon.

What did you think of this uncanny resemblance between Black Mirror and SAG-AFTRA? Do you think the strike is justified? Let us know in the comments below.