In an unprecedented move not seen in Hollywood for 63 years, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced Thursday that they would strike after last-ditch negotiations failed.
This follows the Writers Guild of America strike that has now been ongoing for 11 weeks.
The industry-wide shutdown, affecting 160,000 members, including leading figures such as Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and Glenn Close, threatens to halt nearly all film and television production. It revolves around growing concerns over declining compensation and the future threat of artificial intelligence to their profession.
Hollywood is bracing for a potentially long strike as the last actors’ walkout in 1980 lasted more than three months. This looming crisis immediately impacts promotion of this year’s summer blockbusters, with film and television projects due for release now facing significant delays.
The union’s chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, stated that the national board of SAG-AFTRA unanimously voted to strike against studios and streamers from midnight Thursday (0700 GMT Friday). The Hollywood strike, which sees actors and writers standing together on picket lines, is the first double strike since 1960.
SAG-AFTRA has expressed disappointment in the executives’ refusal to acknowledge the negative effects of the industry’s significant shifts on their members. The statement from the union highlights concerns over severely eroded compensation due to the rise of the streaming ecosystem and the existential threat posed by artificial intelligence.
Despite these challenges, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers maintains that the decision to strike was the union’s choice. Disney CEO Bob Iger has even labelled the actors’ and writers’ expectations as “not realistic.”
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Crabtree-Ireland held a press briefing at the guild’s national headquarters in Los Angeles. They criticised studios and streamers for implementing drastic changes in the industry’s business model while insisting on maintaining outdated contracts.
While some reality TV, animation and talk shows may continue to operate, the strike drastically curtails the production of movies and shows. Actors and writers are seeking higher pay to counter inflation and guarantees for their future livelihoods, including regulating the use of AI.
The core of the dispute revolves around “residuals” —payments earned by actors each time a film or show they starred in is aired on network or cable. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ do not disclose viewing figures for their shows, offering a flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of popularity.
This industry-wide stand-off marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Screen Actors Guild. Despite hopes for resolution, last-ditch efforts to reach a deal collapsed on Wednesday, with the guild’s contract expiring and the union and studios failing to agree on terms for a new contract.
SOURCE: Deadline
