Hollywood is facing its most widespread work stoppage in more than 60 years, as actors join writers on the picket line. SAG-AFTRA, a union of more than 160,000 entertainment professionals, announced on July 13 that its members are going on strike after weeks of failed negotiations with the major studios and streamers.
The strike comes after the union’s contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired on July 12. The union wants a contract that reflects the changes in the industry due to the rise of streaming, which has affected the income, benefits and working conditions of its members. They are also concerned about the use of artificial intelligence to exploit their likenesses without fair compensation.
“We stand in solidarity in unprecedented unity. Our union and our sister unions and the unions around the world are standing by us, as well as other labor unions. Because at some point, the jig is up. You cannot keep being dwindled and marginalized, disrespected and dishonored. The entire business model has been changed by streaming, digital, AI. This is a moment of history that is a moment of truth. If we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business who cares more about Wall Street than you and your family,” SAG-AFTRA president and actress Fran Drescher said in a press conference.
The strike is historic as it coincides with the ongoing strike of Hollywood writers, which started two months ago over similar issues. This is the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers have stopped work at the same time. The last time both unions went on strike was when future President Ronald Reagan led SAG.
The strike will affect the production of movies and shows across various platforms, as well as other media such as video games and commercials. Actors will also stop promoting their projects during the strike, and will be absent from talk shows and magazine covers.
The strike could have a significant impact on the streaming industry, which has been relying on new and original content to attract and retain subscribers. Streaming services could eventually run out of new scripted series to premiere, and have to reshuffle their release calendars.
“The studios and streamers have implemented massive unilateral changes in our industry’s business model, while at the same time insisting on keeping our contracts frozen in amber. Their refusal to meaningfully engage with our key proposals and the fundamental disrespect shown to our members is what has brought us to this point,” SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said.
The AMPTP called a strike “certainly not the outcome we hoped for,” and said the union had “regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.”
The issues in the actors negotiations are some of the same as in the writers’ strike, including not only increased pay but progress on residuals paid for when films or shows are shown again, particularly on streaming services.
“As you know, over the past decade, your compensation has been severely eroded by the rise of the streaming ecosystem. We have fully entered a digital and streaming entertainment industry, and that demands a contract that is relevant to the new business model and must be contemporary to meet the financial needs of our members today,” Drescher and Crabtree-Ireland wrote in an open letter to SAG-AFTRA members.
It is unclear how long the strike will last or when negotiations will resume. For now, Hollywood actors are standing firm in their demands for a fair deal.
Relevant articles:
– SAG-AFTRA Is Officially Going on Strike. Here’s What That Means., Teen Vogue, July 13, 2023
– SAG-AFTRA Releases Strike Rules: No Publicity, Junkets Or Voice-Acting, The Hollywood Reporter, July 13, 2023
– It’s official: SAG-AFTRA is going on strike, Mashable, July 13, 2023
– Actors’ Union SAG-AFTRA Will Go On Strike—Shutting Down Hollywood, Forbes, July 13, 2023