Hollywood at historic standstill as actors join writers’ strike: ‘The eyes of the world are on us’
The Screen Actors Guild announced Thursday (July 13) that it would strike only fellow Writers Guild of America for fair wages.
Follow here for real-time updates on the upcoming Sag-aftra attack.
“Because the AMPTP [Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers] Remaining unwilling to offer a fair deal on important issues critical to protecting the livelihoods of working actors and artists, SAG-AFTRA’s national board voted unanimously to issue a strike order against studios and enact streamers,” Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG’s national executive and chief negotiator, said in a news conference.
“Union members should withhold their work until a fair deal can be reached,” he told the room. “They left us no alternative.”
The strike, which involves more than 150,000 television and film actors, will begin at midnight tonight and picketing will begin Friday morning.
It is the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers have demonstrated in front of film and television production companies.
“The eyes of the world, and especially the eyes of workers, are on us,” said Fran Drescher, star of the ’90s sitcom The nanny Who is President of the Actors Guild now?
“What happens to us is important. What happens to us happens in all areas of work. When employers make Wall Street and greed their priority while forgetting about the key contributors that make the machine run, then we’re in trouble.”
SAG-AFTRA member Christine Robert is on strike in solidarity with the striking WGA
(Getty Images)
She continued: “We are falling victim to a very greedy enterprise. At some point you have to say: “No, we won’t put up with that anymore.” You guys are crazy. What are you doing? Why are you doing this?’
“The entire business model has been transformed by streaming and AI. If we don’t stand firm now, we’ll all be in danger.’ You can’t change the business model as much as it has been changed and expect the contract to change as well.”
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In an emotional tirade against the Hollywood studios, Drescher added: “Wake up and smell the coffee! We demand respect! You cannot exist without us!”
In response, AMPTP, which represents the studios, said it had presented a deal that includes “historic pay and residual increases, significantly higher pension and health insurance contribution caps, audition protection, reduced series option periods and a groundbreaking AI proposal for protection.” of Actors” provides “Digital Likenesses for SAG-AFTR Members”.
“A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot function without the artists who bring our TV shows and films to life,” the organization added. “Unfortunately, the Union has chosen a path that will result in financial hardship for untold thousands of people who depend on the industry.”
The Actors’ Guild released a statement early Thursday announcing that negotiations with the AMPTP had proved fruitless.
News of the combined strike comes after the occupation of Oppenheimer left the film’s London premiere early to “write up their picket signs” in preparation for the strike.
“You’ve seen her here on the red carpet before,” Nolan announced to moviegoers.
“Unfortunately, they are off to write their picket signs for what we believe is an upcoming Sag strike and are joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the fight for fair wages for working union members and we support them.”
The demands of the incumbent union are similar to those of its counterpart, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose members have been on strike since May. The main demands of the former include higher wages, higher final payments and improved working conditions.