SAG-AFTRA

This Labor Day, we step back and ask a bigger question: what's the state of the unions in America right now? Not just SAG-AFTRA, but the whole movement. Where we've made real gains, where we're facing challenges and what it actually means to be a union member in 2026. To tackle these topics, we're joined by two prominent labor leaders who are at the center of that fight. Sean Astin is President of SAG-AFTRA and was recently elected a Vice President of the AFL-CIO. Liz Shuler is President of the AFL-CIO, representing nearly 15 million working people. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

Finneas O'Connell is a two-time Academy Award winner, an 11-time Grammy winner, and the creative force behind some of the biggest music of the last decade. He's also a lifelong SAG-AFTRA member who grew up watching his family navigate the industry. In this episode, Finneas talks about his path from child actor to multi-hyphenate creative, the craft behind his music, and why union membership has meant something to him his whole life. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Performers face unique financial challenges with multiple gigs and unpredictable income spread across different states and even other countries. But there are smart steps you can take right now to smooth the ups and downs of your income and protect yourself from IRS headaches. In this episode, we talk to Kevin Doyle, a licensed CPA who has spent more than a decade guiding creative professionals. He explains when it makes sense to form a loan out corporation or S corp, what performers overlook when claiming their deductions, and the smartest way to start building a retirement plan. *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.