It’s official. The cast of Oppenheimer withdrew from the London premiere to “craft their picket signs.” Christopher Nolan echoed their sentiments: “[They left] in anticipation of an imminent SAG strike, joining my guild, the Writers Guild, in the fight for equitable pay for union members, and we stand with them.”
Subsequently, SAG-AFTRA initiated a strike, marking the first occurrence of such an event since 1980. Here’s everything you need to be aware of:
What does SAG-AFTRA represent?
The largest union of performers and broadcasters worldwide, SAG-AFTRA, encompasses the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. This union represents over 160,000 media artists, ranging from actors and hosts to broadcast journalists. Membership eligibility requires employment in a role covered by the “SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement” for either three days as a background actor or a single day in a principal or speaking part.
In essence, the union encompasses a vast majority of media. For perspective, reviewing the previous year’s SAG Awards list will reveal just how many significant projects involve union workers.
What’s the cause of the strike?
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, including major studios like Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, and Warner Bros., have collapsed recently. Key points of contention include the decline in compensation during the streaming era and the potential for AI to utilize performers’ likenesses without compensation.
Matt Damon commented at the Oppenheimer premiere, “If our leadership asserts that the deal is unfair, we must stand firm until a just agreement for working actors is reached. For many actors, this is the difference between having healthcare or not.”
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher declared in a speech, “We were left with no options. We are the victims. An exceedingly greedy entity is exploiting us. I am stunned by how those we have done business with are treating us. Their claims of financial losses, while allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs, are shocking. Shame on them.”
What’s the studios’ perspective?
In a statement to NPR, the AMPTP said, “This was the Union’s decision, not ours. Instead of continuing negotiations, SAG-AFTRA has set us on a path that will exacerbate the financial difficulty for thousands dependent on the industry for their living.” Disney CEO Bob Iger described SAG-AFTRA’s demands as “unrealistic” and “disturbing.”
Is there a writers’ strike happening as well?
Indeed, the Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May. Many hope that the addition of the actors will bolster their negotiation power. Scott Moore, co-writer of The Hangover and Bad Moms, told the New York Times, “Actors, being more visually appealing than writers, might draw more attention.” This marks the first joint strike by actors and writers since 1960.
Several actors have also shown solidarity by joining the WGA picket line — including the cast of Modern Family.
What will be the impact?
Any unionized show that persisted during the WGA strike will be affected. Some shows that paused due to the WGA strike include Stranger Things, Saturday Night Live, The Last of Us, and Yellowjackets.
Some shows, such as House of the Dragon, American Horror Story, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, did continue but are now unlikely to do so. The full impact of the dual strike might take several months, if not years, to materialize.
Likely productions to halt due to the SAG-AFTRA strike include movies like Wicked, Gladiator 2, Deadpool 3, and Beetlejuice 2.
The strike will also probably lead to a halt in the promotion of movies and TV shows. This means no red carpets, including at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, and no Emmy For Your Consideration campaigns.
While some suggested that the WGA strike would increase reality TV, many hosts and judges are probably SAG-AFTRA members.
In conclusion, the combined impact of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes could significantly change the media landscape in the short to medium term, potentially delaying favourite TV shows and anticipated movies. For audiences and industry professionals alike, this critical juncture underlines Hollywood’s power dynamics. Only time will tell whether this scenario will bring about a more equitable entertainment industry.
