High-profile actors have urged their fellow Equity trade union members to vote ‘Yes’ in a ballot on protecting the rights of performers working in film and TV, which closes this Thursday with the result to be announced at Equity’s headquarters in the West End.
Adrian Lester, Hugh Bonneville and Harriet Walter are among thousands of performers who have all backed Equity’s campaign to enshrine artificial intelligence protections for performers into union agreements.
The performing arts and entertainment trade union is currently negotiating the agreements it holds with Pact – the trade body representing the majority of producers and production companies in the UK – which will set the minimum standards for pay, terms and conditions for actors, stunt performers and dancers working in film and TV.
Backing Equity's campaign, Hugh Bonneville said: “Our likenesses and our voices are unique and must be valued accordingly, not exploited for the benefit of others without license or consent.”
Adrian Lester said he knew how hard it could be for early career performers to question being digitally scanned which is “why it’s so important to get minimum protections on AI for everyone in our contracts and agreements.”
And Harriet Walter emphasised the importance of human-centred art, by saying that the whole point of artistic endeavours is to “share the experience of life as a human being”. See below for quotes in full.
The ballot opened on Thursday 4 December and will close this Thursday 18 December at 12pm. It is an indicative ballot to show whether Equity’s members who work in film and TV would be prepared to refuse to be digitally scanned on set to secure AI protections, a form of industrial action known as ‘action short of strike’.
This is the first time this whole group of members working across film and TV have voted on industrial action, showing the far-reaching impact of AI on performers across the industry.
Quotes in full
Hugh Bonneville said: “I fully support the principle of protecting actors’ identities in the world of AI. Of course technology can enhance TV and film but it should never be used to replace the performers who create the characters in the stories we tell. The professionalism of actors should be respected and acknowledged. Our likenesses and our voices are unique and must be valued accordingly, not exploited for the benefit of others without license or consent. Achieving AI protections in our contracts is vital. I endorse Equity’s efforts and I urge my professional colleagues to vote Yes in this crucial ballot. Together we can help secure the protections we deserve.”
Adrian Lester said: “I don’t want AI carrying out my art for me, writing, directing or acting. AI is a tool used by creatives and should be for laundry, dishes and admin in order to leave us free as artists to create authentic human performances. I’ve worked as an actor on film and TV sets for decades and I know it can be hard for young and early career performers to question being digitally scanned on set – that’s why it’s so important to get minimum protections on AI for everyone in our contracts and agreements. I’m fully behind Equity’s campaign to win AI protections for performers and I’ve voted yes in this ballot. Please make sure you use your vote. Make your voice heard.”
Harriet Walter said: “The whole point about any artistic endeavour is that it is a reaching out from a human creator to connect with other humans and share the experience of living life as a human being.
“AI may be able to write novels, paint pictures and even simulate human actors but none of that can have any meaning beyond its own cleverness. We can admire the technology, but it is ultimately meaningless and damaging. Nothing can replace the experience of watching living sentient actors making thoughtful choices from moment to moment in response to other actors doing the same. That’s what turns us on.”
Ballot result
The announcement of the ballot result will be made by Equity’s General Secretary, Paul W Fleming, and is expected to take place at 1pm outside Equity headquarters in Covent Garden, London.
