In the high-pressure world of independent filmmaking, time is of the essence. Ash Avildsen found himself in a precarious situation when the actors’ union initiated a strike just six days away from completing his low-budget biopic “Queen of the Ring.” Located in Louisville, Ky., the production was forced to shut down immediately. Without an interim waiver from SAG-AFTRA, the film was at risk of falling apart. The project faced insurmountable logistical and financial obstacles if the cast and crew were to disband and then reunite after the strike. Mr. Avildsen expressed the extreme stress he felt during this time, given the precariousness of the situation.
Fortunately, “Queen of the Ring” received the much-needed waiver, one of over 160 that SAG-AFTRA has issued in the past three weeks. To qualify for a waiver, productions must have no ties to the studios being struck against, and the involved companies must comply with the union’s latest contract demands presented to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, who negotiate on behalf of the studios.
The recipients of these waivers vary from under-the-radar projects like Avildsen’s to higher-profile films such as A24’s “Mother Mary,” starring Anne Hathaway, and Hammerstone’s “Flight Risk,” directed by Mel Gibson and featuring Mark Wahlberg. These waivers serve three purposes for the union: providing an opportunity for non-studio affiliated companies to continue working, ensuring that actors and crew members can stay employed when much of Hollywood is at a standstill, and demonstrating to major studios that productions can operate successfully while meeting the union’s latest demands, including increased pay for actors and contributions to the union’s health and pension fund.
While these agreements have been crucial for many productions, they have also sparked confusion and concern within the industry. Some question the propriety of working on a production while many others in the industry, such as the writers, are on strike. Viola Davis, for example, was granted an interim waiver for an upcoming film she was set to star in and produce but declined, citing the strike as the reason for her decision. Comedian Sarah Silverman took to Instagram to express her criticism of the interim agreements, questioning the productive nature of these waivers during the strike.
These waivers have also caused uncertainty regarding how they align with the strike. The AppleTV+ show “Tehran,” for instance, received a waiver but drew criticism due to its affiliation with an Israeli company overseeing production, despite Apple being a member of the alliance. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s lead negotiator, acknowledged the confusion surrounding this situation, emphasizing that not all countries’ labor laws align with those of the United States.
The confusion persists in Hollywood, with questions arising about crossing picket lines and the overall messaging from the union. Independent production companies like Legion M, which relies on crowdsourced funding for their projects, are eager for clarity. They want to ensure they are not in violation of any strike-related protocols while also being conscious of their image in the marketplace.
Honoring the interim agreements does come with added costs for independent productions. According to an anonymous independent financier, production budgets can increase by 8 to 10 percent, a significant burden for films operating on a tight budget. Additionally, timing becomes a concern, as completed projects may receive waivers to allow actors to promote their films, potentially leading to distribution deals with companies still in a stalemate with the union.
While Avildsen revels in the relief of completing his movie, he is also aware of the potential hindrance these disagreements may pose when it comes to securing distribution for “Queen of the Ring.” The thought of the strike still ongoing by the time the film is ready for release is daunting. As he contemplates this future scenario, Avildsen admits to feeling apprehensive about the potential impact it may have on his project.
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