LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hollywood actors could strike alongside screenwriters in the coming days, marking the first two-union strike in the business in more than 60 years and having significant repercussions for the production of movies and television shows. SAG-AFTRA members have made the decision decisively to authorize a strike in the event that their leaders fail to renew the film and television contract that was set to expire on Friday, June 30.
The first joint Screen Actors' Guild (SAG) and Writers' Guild of America (WGA) strike since 1960 is on the horizon. Actors and writers went on strike on May 2 over a disagreement mostly centered around streaming pay. The Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers rebuffed several of the proposed contract provisions made by the WGA, which led to their strike beginning in May. Now, their fellow artists—the actors—can join them on the picket line in a more official manner. Here's a glimpse at what might happen and the reasons why.
The SAG-AFTRA contract set to expire
The contract between the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the studios, streaming platforms, and production firms that employ them was scheduled to expire Friday, June 30 night. Hours earlier, however, the two parties announced that they had reached a deal to continue negotiations for the current contract and the next one through July 12. Actors who are unionized have overwhelmingly approved allowing their leaders to declare a strike if an agreement cannot be reached, as per KGW News.
The settlement provides the parties more time to come to an agreement and averts a work slowdown that would have worsened the continuing strike action in Hollywood. On May 2, writers from the Writers Guild of America went on strike, causing several film and television projects to be halted.
Actors want hikes in the minimum wage
Actors are requesting hikes in the minimum wage to counteract inflation and changes in the way television is produced, which they claim have made it more difficult for them to make a livelihood. According to union leaders, the transition to streaming has resulted in shorter series orders and longer intervals between productions, which is financially straining members. More than 300 actors wrote a letter to leaders on June 28 stating that "With inflation and continued growth in streaming, we need a seismic realignment of our minimum pay."
'This is not a moment to meet in the middle'
Some actors, though, have voiced concern that their heads might not be fighting hard enough. In a letter to union leadership, A-list celebrities including Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence stated that they were prepared to quit their jobs if negotiators were unable to strike a "transformative deal" on increased base pay and safeguards for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). "This is not a moment to meet in the middle," the letter states. The SAG-AFTRA is headed by former 'Nanny' star Fran Drescher as president, and represents over 160,000 actors, stunt artists, media journalists, announcers, and hosts.
Burden of self-taping auditions
Self-taping auditions is one such responsibility. Actors were asked to tape their own auditions at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This practice has persisted, much to the dismay of actors who complain that self-taping has grown time-consuming and expensive, forcing them to learn excessive amounts of dialogue quickly, in addition to the cost of the audition process. According to SAG-AFTRA, the practice is "a massive, daily, uncompensated burden on the lives of performers." Self-tape auditions are subject to regulations and restrictions sought by the union.
Actors worry about potential risks of unchecked AI use
The development and possible misuse of artificial intelligence have drawn criticism from all the main Hollywood unions. The potential of AI to duplicate actors' voices, likenesses, and performances has led SAG-AFTRA in particular to label the technology "a real and immediate threat" to the creative labor of its members.
The union stated that it seeks to reach a consensus over legal uses of the technology and establish safeguards against its abuse. It also seeks to guarantee members' approval and payment for both the times when AI is used to develop new performances and the times when their work is utilized to code AI systems.
What did the AMPTP say to the writers?
Despite ongoing picketing and several sizable protests during the past two months of the writers' strike, nothing has changed. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios, streamers, and production businesses in all industry union negotiations, and the strikers are not currently in negotiations. In 1988, a five-month strike by authors set a record for the longest one.
According to the AMPTP, the authors' demands would necessitate that they are maintained on staff and compensated even when there is no work for them. The group claimed to have also extended significant pay raises. Negotiations between the two parties broke down due to their extreme differences, hours before the contract ended.
What will be the effect of a joint SAG and WGA strike?
The late-night network talk shows were all put on hold as a result of the WGA strike, including NBC's 'The Tonight Show' starring Jimmy Fallon, ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and CBS's 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.' The final three episodes of 'Saturday Night Live' were also canceled. Several scripted television shows have also dissolved including 'Stranger Things' on Netflix, 'Hacks' on Max, 'Yellow Jackets' on Showtime, and 'Severance' on Apple TV+. According to reports, certain movies have also been paused.
If actors joined writers, almost every other show or movie that had not previously been shot would experience a similar stoppage. Movie release dates will also be postponed, as well as upcoming television season premieres. Although the Tony Awards and BET Awards managed to go on despite the WGA strike, the two strikes are also raising concerns about the feasibility of the Emmy Awards, whose nominations are due to be released on July 12 before a September event.
