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Update: Actors Will Join Writers On Strike At Midnight, Officially Shutting Down Hollywood
Update: (Jul. 13, 2023): The ins and outs of Hollywood has officially been put on pause.
News recently broke that at midnight, Hollywood actors will go on strike after not being able to reach a mutual deal in their contractual agreement(s) with AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). As you may already know, screenwriters have been on strike since May. This is the first time since 1960 that actors and writers have walked out together.
According to reports, SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and WGA (Writers Guild of America) are both seeking increases in pay and residuals from streaming content. Both parties also want protection from their work being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).
Famed actress Fran Drescher — president of the actors union — spoke on the joined strike and said,
“We are the victims here. “We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Original story: (Jul. 13, 2023): Unfortunately, Hollywood may be out of “lights, camera, action” for a while!
According to reports, writers in the film/TV industry aren’t the only ones going on strike and actors might soon be stepping away from the entertainment world as well.
(via Lê Minh/Pexels)
Apparently, SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) were unable to reach a mutual deal in their contractual agreement(s).
Because of this, all production helmed by studios under AMPTP’s umbrella (Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Netflix, ABC, FOX, NBC, and Amazon, among others) will immediately cease.
SAG-AFTRA, a labor union with a whopping total of 160,000 members, was said to be seeking a fair payout from streaming residuals as well as regulations on the use of artificial intelligence in regard to their work.
The organization’s president, actress Fran Drescher expressed in a statement,
“SAG-AFTRA negotiated in good faith and was eager to reach a deal that sufficiently addressed performer needs, but the AMPTP’s responses to the union’s most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry.”
Fran Drescher
She continued:
“The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiation in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal.”
In response to SAG-AFTRA’s demands, AMPTP defended,
“We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations. This is the Union’s choice, not ours.
They added:
“Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.”
Allegedly, AMPTP’s brands have refused to disclose their viewership data to actors. But… the association did claim to have offered “historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shorted series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more.”
However, the two parties were (seemingly) unable to reach a beneficial standard for all involved. A press conference announcing the final decision has been scheduled for today (Jul. 13) at noon Pacific time.
When speaking of the harm of artificial intelligence and the lack of compensation that comes with it, SAG-AFTRA wrote in a release,
“Artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to creative professions, and all actors and performers deserve contract language that protects them from having their identity and talent exploited without consent and pay.”
The potential actors’ strike comes only months after screenwriters walked off the sets of some of today’s most-watched shows, prompting a major, ongoing shutdown in the entertainment arena. According to reports, if the actors go on strike, it would mark the first time since 1960 that actors and writers boycotted Hollywood together.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Let us know in the comments below!
