Sean Penn Friday strongly supported the Hollywood writers’ strike during remarks at the Cannes Film Festival, even calling the AI dispute “human obscenity.”
Penn spoke at a press conference to introduce the film Black fliesdirected by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, about paramedics in New York.
Regarding the strike declared by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), he said so “the industry has been upsetting writers, actors and directors for a long time”.
“Many new concepts are discussed, including the use of artificial intelligence. It seems to me a human obscenity for producers to react against this,” said Penn, who is not only an actor but also a director and screenwriter.
The conflict
Film and TV writers went on strike weeks ago after negotiations with producers failed. The WGA argues salary increases, new contracts fit for the streaming age, and safeguards against the use of scripts written by artificial intelligence.
“The first thing we should do in these talks is change the name of the Producers Union and name it after its conduct, that is Bankers Union,” Penn added.
“It’s hard for so many writers and so many people in the industry not to be able to work these days. I would say that he will examine his conscience and see which side manages to prevail”.
Meanwhile in Hollywood the possibility of an extension of the strike increases. The Directors Guild is also negotiating a new contract with the producers. The board of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, voted this week to ask its members to authorize a strike as they prepare to start negotiations for a new contract.
The strike was a constant topic of conversation at Cannes. On Thursday, Ethan Hawke wore a T-shirt that read “Stop the Pencils.” On the festival’s opening day on Tuesday, judging panel Paul Dano said he would soon join his wife Zoe on the pickets.
“My wife is on the picket line with my six-month-old strapped to her chest,” Dano said. “I’ll join the picket line when I get home.”
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Source: Clarin
