Actor and director Sean Penn took part in the strike of actors and screenwriters in Hollywood against the studios and wanted to send a message, in particular against Artificial Intelligence.
The stars never stop mobilizing in the historic double strike between the union of screenwriters from the WGA (Writers Guild of America, the union of American screenwriters which protects their copyrights) and actors and actresses under the impetus of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild ‐ American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the American professional union for actors) and the studios and streaming platforms represented by the AMPTP (Alliance of Film and Television Producers ).
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Everyone makes their comments during the days of the strike and fights so that the scriptwriters and actors can obtain a revaluation of the rights and working conditions, an increase in fixed and residual salaries (royalties) in particular on streaming content, lighter casting processes and a framework for the use of Artificial Intelligence.
The enslavement of human beings by this technology is completely unhealthy
This last point is one of the most burning in the battle. And after James Cameron and Bryan Cranston, it is now Sean Penn who speaks on AI.
The two-time Oscar winner joined the picket line with Emile Hirsch, the star of his film Into the Wild, to protest outside Disney Studios, whose CEO Bob Iger is the target of several stars, including the hero of Breaking Bad or Tatiana Maslany, who plays She-Hulk.
“Producers are going to have to come back to reality in the sense that, in the long run, a business being operated is not productive for anyone. This is a matter of quality of life and basic decency that everyone should get without having to fight.
As far as Artificial Intelligence is concerned, the enslavement of human beings by this technology is completely unhealthy.”
Sean Penn even sat down with Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the executive director and negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, which works with its president Fran Drescher (A Nanny), to share a statement of support for the unions :
“Irony when you stand by us… We’re standing outside the Disney premises, and one of the most famous Disney movies of all time tells the story of an evil witch who steals Ariel’s voice in The Little Mermaid.
And the idea that someone can have their voice, their image, their likeness or their body stolen and used forever without their permission, without their compensation… We can fight against these digital technologies and we must do it with firmness, whether it’s against Disney or Netflix or anywhere else.”
During this strike day, Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch were accompanied by other stars of the big and small screen such as Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer, Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), Timothy Simons (Veep), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), iconic actress and activist Jane Fonda and Damon Lindelof (Watchmen).