At the stroke of midnight, Hollywood actors initiated a strike, driven by shattered negotiations with studios. This move aligns them with film and television writers who have been steadfastly picketing since May, intensifying the disruption of numerous shows and movies.
According to reliable sources, The Screen Actors Guild will join forces with over 10,000 members of the Writers Guild of America, marking the first instance of such solidarity since 1960. Their collective dissent against major studios and streaming services commenced on May 2, compelling the industry to grind to a halt across the United States and beyond.
The two prominent unions at the forefront of this battle are SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA). With a robust membership of 160,000 film and television actors, SAG-AFTRA stands as Hollywood’s largest union.
Related: 2023 Emmy Awards Nominations: See Full Nominees List
Both unions are demanding amplified base pay and residuals in light of the streaming TV era, along with ironclad assurances that their craft will not be supplanted by artificial intelligence (AI).
Formally sanctioned by a unanimous vote from its national board, the strike officially commences at the stroke of midnight. This announcement came from the actors’ union on Thursday, following the expiration of the deadline to secure a new contract on Wednesday.
Fran Drescher, renowned for her role in The Nanny TV show and currently serving as the president of SAG-AFTRA, expressed deep dismay at the studios’ dismissive responses to the actors’ legitimate concerns. He called the studios’ responses to actors’ concerns insulting and disrespectful
Related: Ahsoka Trailer, Release Date, Cast & More
In his words, “I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us. I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things, how they plead poverty that they’re losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions to their CEOs. It is disgusting.”
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the trade association responsible for negotiating on behalf of production companies such as Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and Walt Disney Co (DIS.N), expressed profound disappointment in SAG-AFTRA’s decision to abandon negotiations. Their disappointment runs deep, as they grapple with the fallout of this escalating industry-wide conflict.
Related: Kevin Spacey claims he was a ‘big flirt’ with no “aggressive” behaviour
