The union represents Hollywood The actors said Thursday key negotiations with the studios to avert a major shutdown of the industry had ended without an agreement, paving the way for a vote on the first actors’ strike in more than four decades. The Screen Actors GuildSAG AFTRA), which represents 160,000 artists including A-list stars, said the latest talks have failed to resolve their demands over falling wages and the threat of artificial intelligence.
Union negotiators unanimously recommended a strike to their state committee, which was due to vote Thursday morning on conducting industrial action, they said in a statement. A “double whammy” of actors and writernot seen in Hollywood since 1960 would bring almost all US film and television productions to a standstill.
The return of popular series to TV this year would cause lengthy delays. And if the strikes continue, future blockbuster films would also be postponed. Actors demand better pay and protection from future use AI in television and film.
“We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to end negotiations. This is the Union’s decision, not ours,” the Alliance of Film and TV Producers said in a statement early Thursday. Hollywood studios had brought in federal mediators to help resolve the shutdown — a last-minute move that SAG-AFTRA described as a “cynical ploy.”
SAG-AFTRA represents A-list stars like Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrenceand Glenn Close and all members have pre-authorized industrial action if no settlement is reached.
premieres and parties
A strike would immediately prevent stars from promoting some of the year’s biggest releases, at the height of the film industry’s summer blockbuster season. There is a premiere for Christopher Nolan in London on Wednesday evening Oppenheimer was brought forward by an hour, so that the cast incl Robert Downey Jr., Matt DamonAnd Emily Blunt was able to attend without violating union rules, Variety reported.
But a strike would derail the US premiere of the acclaimed film, which is set to take place in New York on Monday, as well as the new film’s planned red carpet release at Disneyland this weekend haunted house Movie. And the giant yearbook comic con Next week’s pop culture gathering in San Diego could be starved.
Even the Emmy AwardsTV version of oscarswhich is to take place on September 18thHe is reportedly considering postponing it to November or even next year. “We hope that the ongoing guild negotiations can reach a fair and speedy resolution,” Frank Scherma, chairman of the Television Academy, said when the Emmy nominations were announced on Wednesday.
Quick solution
While the writers’ strike has already drastically reduced the number of films and shows in production, an actors’ strike would shut down almost everything. Some reality TV, animation and talk shows may continue. Earlier Wednesday, Hollywood unions representing directors, behind-the-scenes workers and writers issued a statement of “unwavering support and solidarity” with the actors.
“While the studios are worth trillions of dollars, billions of viewers worldwide and sky-high profits, this battle is not about actors versus the studios,” it said. Workers “across trades and departments” would “stand together.” “Prevent megacorporations from undermining the conditions we’ve fought for for decades,” it said.
Payment and AI
Like the writers, who have already spent 11 weeks on the picket line, the actors are demanding higher salaries to stem inflation and guarantees of future livelihoods. In addition to salaries when actively working, actors receive payments called “residuals” each time a film or show they starred in airs on network or cable — especially helpful when the cast members are in between projects are.
But today streamers like Netflix And Disney+ do not publish ratings for their shows and offer the same flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of popularity. The problem with AI is to cloud the situation even further. Both actors and writers want guarantees to settle future use, but studios have so far refused to budge.
