LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: According to the Emmy nominee actor Bob Odenkirk, actors should not ask for exceptions to the SAG-AFTRA strike in order to promote their films, as 'Mission: Impossible' star Tom Cruise was believed to have done earlier this week. Odenkirk just has one word to say to actors who wish to continue working during the Screen Actors Guild strike: "Don't."
On July 14, almost 160,000 members of the combined Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union went on strike in opposition to significant Hollywood studios and streaming services. The cast of 'Oppenheimer' left the premiere just after the strike was declared 'official' because SAG-AFTRA had asked members not to participate in interviews or any other type of promotion until the dispute is settled.
Should Hollywood stars be allowed to promote movies during strike?
The SAG-AFTRA strike has put a halt to all TV and film productions until the actor's union come to an agreement with Hollywood studios and streaming services. Members have been asked by SAG-AFTRA not to participate in interviews or any other sort of promotion until the strike has been resolved. However, some performers can already return to work less than a week after joining the writers on the picket line. A few projects have received waivers so they can continue shooting without breaking the strike's rules.
The 45 projects are not AMPTP members, thus they are not connected to the studios or streaming sites that SAG-AFTRA is boycotting. These movies are expected to star Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, Matthew McConaughey, Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, and Mads Mikkelsen, among others. The religious show 'The Chosen,' is based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth, was the first to declare that filming had resumed.
While picketing outside Paramount Studios on Wednesday, July 19, the 'Better Call Saul' actor told The Wrap that he is adamantly opposed to asking for waivers to continue advertising projects throughout the strike. Odenkirk urged his co-workers, "It's a strike. Be on strike. You lose. We lose. Everybody loses. That's tough s***."
'The Mindy Project' actor Ike Barinholtz added, "We all are in this together and if some of us are starting new projects and promoting others, that’s gonna cause dissension. We need the opposite. We need solidarity." Odenkirk continued, "Sometimes you have to do the hard thing." Odenkirk stated that he will be leaving town for a brief respite from the picket lines but anticipated that nothing will be settled in the meanwhile.
'He’ll get beaten up'
There have also been demands for marketing waivers, allowing actors to continue press appearances for movies presently playing in theaters or getting close to release. The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Cruise urged the union to allow stars to promote their movies. Odenkirk, though, is among those urging performers to steadfastly adhere to the picket lines, and he is not the only one.
The vibe outside the studio, covered with advertisements for Cruise's 'Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One,' was clearly anti-Cruise on Wednesday, July 19. One striker chuckled that if Cruise ever joined a picket line, he would use it as another marketing strategy by parachuting in or doing something else as theatrical. A different actor said, "If he ever shows up on a picket line, he’ll get beaten up."
While on the picket line, Cruise's impersonator Evan Ferrante, addressed the rumored request made by the A-lister. He told The Wrap, "I hear that SAG is only allowing true indies to promote their movies. So I don’t think Tom Cruise fits that bill. Unless he’s doing an indie that I’m not aware of." Ferrante continued, "I mean, he is Tom Cruise. You know, people have a hard time saying no to him. So we’ll see."
'That’s why he’s goated'
Following Odenkirk's 'no exceptions' stance with regard to the SAG-AFTRA strike, fans and followers took to social media to praise the 'Better Call Saul' actor for joining the writers on the picket line. One fan hailed him and wrote on Twitter, "That’s why he’s goated." A second fan wrote, "EXACTLY. strikes aren’t supposed to be convenient, that’s the whole point of a strike." A third follower typed, "We are really learning who is cool rn and bob is cool as hell." Another one tweeted, "Unfortunately, he's right. Those actors just want to do right by everyone who worked on the project and create awareness but if you're going to get anywhere with this strike, everyone needs to abstain." Someone else agreed and wrote, "Exactly, the point of a strike is to do economic Scorched Earth Everyone suffers to push those in power into desperation so they'll relent and negotiate more amicably." Another follower seethed, "Bob is absolutely correct, and it's probably Tom bloody Cruise that wants the waiver." One more Odenkirk fan wrote, "It's awesome to see someone whose work you have enjoyed and admired be standup. it's also rare."