SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher delivered a powerful speech during a press conference at the labor union’s headquarters in Los Angeles, California on Thursday, July 13, 2023. In a historic move, tens of thousands of Hollywood actors decided to go on strike at midnight on Thursday, bringing the bustling movie and television industry to a standstill as they joined writers in an industry-wide walkout, which hasn’t happened in 63 years. The strike was issued by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) after negotiations with studios on their demands for fair pay and concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence failed to reach a resolution.
Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, emphasized the significance of this moment, stating, “This is a moment of history, 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.” Once the strike officially begins at 0700 GMT on Friday, actors will join writers on picket lines, marking the first “double strike” in Hollywood since 1960. The writers have been protesting for 11 weeks already, demanding similar changes that have not been met.
As a result of the strike, the production of popular television series will face significant delays, and major film releases may also be postponed if the strikes continue. Actors will be unable to promote their projects during the peak of the movie industry’s summer blockbuster season. The cast of the highly anticipated film “Oppenheimer” even walked out of the glamorous London premiere to show solidarity with the strike.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) represents around 160,000 actors, ranging from A-list stars like Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, and Glenn Close to day players who take on small roles in television series. The last time the union went on strike was in 1980, lasting more than three months. This time, almost 98 percent of the members voted in favor of industrial action as a pre-approval.
Actors claim that their salaries have been reduced, and they no longer receive payments for reruns of successful shows or films on television because streaming platforms refuse to disclose audience figures. The union stated that actors’ pay has been severely affected by the rise of streaming services and highlighted how artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to creative professions.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios, expressed disappointment with SAG-AFTRA’s decision to walk away from talks. Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, called the actors’ and writers’ expectations unrealistic and the decision to strike very disturbing. However, several prominent figures in Hollywood, including writer, director, and producer Phil Lord, criticized the studios’ handling of the negotiations.
While the writers’ strike has already had a significant impact on productions, an actors’ strike will have an even more substantial effect, halting most projects. Reality TV, animation, and talk shows may still be able to continue. Actress and SAG-AFTRA member Jennifer Van Dyck expressed her sadness and the necessity of the strike, stating, “They are making so much money, and they say that we are not approaching this issue fairly… No one wants to go on strike, but there’s just no way we can proceed.”
In addition to requesting higher pay to combat inflation, actors and writers both advocate for guarantees regarding the use of artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, criticized the studios’ proposed use of AI, particularly their desire to scan the faces of background performers for one day’s pay and have eternal ownership and usage rights over their likeness without consent or compensation.
This strike represents a critical moment for the entertainment industry, as Hollywood actors and writers unite to demand fair treatment and protection from the disruption caused by artificial intelligence and dwindling pay. With both sides firmly standing their ground, the impact of this strike on the industry and the outcome of future negotiations remain uncertain.
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