The deadline for Hollywood actors to reach a deal with studios and streaming services has passed, and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) negotiating board has unanimously recommended a walkout. The guild had set a deadline for a deal to be reached before their contracts expired, but an agreement was not reached by the deadline. The negotiating committee has now recommended that the SAG-AFTRA national board call for a strike, and the board is scheduled to vote on this matter.
If the actors decide to strike, they will join screenwriters on picket lines, demanding better terms from studios and streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon. This would be the first time since 1960 that both guilds are on strike simultaneously. The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May, causing a slowdown in film and television production on both coasts and in major production centers like Atlanta.
The negotiations have centered around issues such as the unregulated use of artificial intelligence and its impact on residual pay in the streaming industry. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and other actors have supported the writers by joining them on picket lines. A strike by actors would prevent them from working on sets and promoting their projects.
Following the expiration of the contracts, Dresher expressed her concerns to union members, stating that compensation has been significantly reduced due to the rise of streaming platforms. She also emphasized the need for contract language that protects actors and performers from exploitation and ensures fair pay for their work. In response, the studios’ Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers expressed disappointment with SAG-AFTRA’s decision to walk away from negotiations, highlighting the offers they had made in terms of pay, residuals, health benefits, and other provisions.
The potential strike has also impacted the cast of Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer,” as their attendance at the London premiere is uncertain. Matt Damon, one of the film’s stars, acknowledged the importance of a fair contract for actors, particularly those who rely on residuals to maintain their health insurance. The strike has cast a shadow over the upcoming 75th Emmys, with nominees expressing concern about the need for fair compensation in light of changes brought by streaming platforms.
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