Hollywood actors are on the brink of joining screenwriters in what could be the first two-union strike in the industry in over 60 years. This potential strike could have significant consequences for the production of films and television shows. Here’s an overview of the situation and its implications.
Negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the studios, streaming services, and production companies employing actors were set to expire on Friday at midnight Pacific time. However, both parties agreed to extend the current contract, along with talks on the next one, until July 12. The actors’ union has authorized a strike if no agreement is reached. Similar negotiations went past the deadline in 2014 and 2017, resulting in successful agreements.
Reports suggest that the talks have been productive, but some actors are concerned that their leaders are not pushing hard enough. A letter signed by more than 1,000 actors, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bob Odenkirk, expresses their willingness to strike and their concern that the leadership is not prepared to make necessary sacrifices. The guild, led by president Fran Drescher, represents over 160,000 screen actors, but only actors working on television shows and films would participate in a strike.
The actors’ demands largely overlap with those of the writers. They are advocating for fair compensation in the changing landscape of streaming, where royalty payments are no longer tied to a project’s popularity. Additionally, actors are concerned about inflation outpacing their contracted pay raises, the decreasing frequency of work due to shorter seasons and longer gaps between shows, and the potential threat of unregulated use of artificial intelligence in recreating their performances. Furthermore, actors now face the burden of self-taped auditions, which were formerly the responsibility of casting and productions.
The last strike involving Hollywood actors took place in 1980, lasting for three months. However, actors in broadcast commercials have gone on strike twice since then. In contrast, screenwriters have experienced more frequent labor disputes. In 1960, the actors’ union went on strike for six weeks in conjunction with a five-month writers’ strike. This is the only time that two major Hollywood unions simultaneously walked out. Actors have historically shown support for striking writers, often joining them on picket lines as a symbolic act of solidarity.
If actors join writers in a strike, it would lead to the shutdown of nearly all shows and films that have not been completed. Upcoming seasons of television series would be indefinitely delayed, and movie releases would be pushed back. Streaming platforms may not show immediate differences in their menus, but viewers would eventually experience delays in the return of their favorite original series. Exceptions would include productions outside the United States, as well as reality shows, game shows, and most daytime talk shows. The potential strikes also raise uncertainty regarding the upcoming Emmy Awards, although the Tony Awards and BET Awards managed to proceed during previous writers’ strikes.
In the ongoing writers’ strike, there have been persistent picketing and major rallies for two months, but there has been no progress in negotiations between the strikers and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The writers are concerned about the decreasing number of staff members, known as “mini-rooms,” leading to less work and fewer future opportunities. The AMPTP argues that the writers’ demands would require them to be kept on staff and paid even when no work is available. Despite generous pay increase offers from the AMPTP, negotiations broke off just before the contract deadline. Whether a different outcome can be achieved with actors in the coming days remains uncertain.
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