Hollywood Actors Strike Joins Writers After Failed Negotiation
After American stars and writers said they would go on strike together, Hollywood's film and TV industries will pretty much shut down. The choice to walk out means that both SAG-AFTRA and WGA will be on strike at the same time for the first time in 63 years. The national board of SAG-AFTRA, which stands for Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, decided unanimously to go on Hollywood Actors Strike Thursday morning, the guild said at a news conference in the afternoon.
Author:Dexter CookeReviewer:Hajra ShannonJul 17, 20237.8K Shares303.3K Views
After American stars and writers said they would go on strike together, Hollywood's film and TV industries will pretty much shut down. The choice to walk out means that both SAG-AFTRA and WGA will be on strike at the same time for the first time in 63 years.
The national board of SAG-AFTRA, which stands for Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, decided unanimously to go on Hollywood Actors StrikeThursday morning, the guild said at a news conference in the afternoon.
Hollywood Actors Strike To Join Writers
Hollywood actors join writers on the picket lines as SAG-AFTRA strike gets underway
When summer ends, there won't be any new episodes of The White Lotus, The Last of Us, or even Emily in Paris. You won't be able to see Ariana Grande in a movie version of the musical Wicked at your neighborhood theater in the spring, either. And the filming of Gladiator 2 in Morocco is going to stop for good. Already, you can almost hear the cries.
After talks between their union and the movie studios broke down, Hollywood actors went on strike at midnight on Friday, California time. This is a big problem for the entertainment business and could stop film and TV productions all over the U.S. Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) leaders said Thursday afternoon that about 65,000 actors who were part of their union planned to leave their jobs at midnight.
It's the first time the union has stopped work across the whole business since 1980. The performers are joining more than 11,000 TV and scriptwriters who have been on strike since early May. It is the first time since 1960 when Ronald Reagan was president of the Actors' Guild, that two big Hollywood unions are both on strike at the same time.
Hollywood's biggest union, which represents 160,000 film and TV actors, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) want raises in base pay and residuals in the age of streaming TV, as well as guarantees that their jobs won't be done by artificial intelligence (AI).
At a press meeting on Thursday, the actors' union said that the strike will start at midnight. The walkout was given the green light by the union's national board unanimously.
Also, the star-studded cast of "Oppenheimer" left the film's London premiere early on Thursday, as the Hollywood actors' union held its first big strike in more than 40 years.
Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Cillian Murphy, and Florence Pugh walked the red carpet outside the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square theater on Thursday, but they left before the movie started, director Christopher Nolan told the crowd inside the theater.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, said that the strike was "certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life."
“„The AMPTP presented a deal that offered historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, and a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses for SAG-AFTRA members.- Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers
“„The Union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.- Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers
Only movies and TV shows will be affected by the strike. Members of SAG-AFTRA who work in the news business, such as certain television hosts and announcers, will not take part in the walkout.
The strikes are happening at a time when the big media and tech companies that have started streaming services are more concerned with cutting costs and making money than with getting more subscribers.
The AMPTP is negotiating on behalf of the companies, which include Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), CBS (VIAC), Disney (DIS), NBC Universal, Netflix (NFL), Paramount Global, Sony (SNE), and Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. Many of these companies stock prices have gone down in the last year, which has led to cost-cutting measures like letting people go.
In a statement released on Thursday, the British actors' union, Equity, said that it "stands full square behind our sister union in their claim, and the action their Board have agreed to take".Even though the US actors' strike won't directly affect people who work in the UK, it is likely that British actors who work in the US and are members of SAG-AFTRA will be legally able to take part.
Conclusion
On the first weekend of the American screen actors' strike, fans of movies and TV dramas all over the world are more upset than they were during the writers' strike, which has been going on since the beginning of May. Since talks broke down in Los Angeles on Thursday, the gloves are off in a fight over how streaming services are seen to be lowering pay and putting money into using AI in production.
And if charisma helps in a labor dispute, then the fight to make sure the talent behind a lot of the streaming material around the world gets paid has a lot more of the right ingredient.
Dexter Cooke
Author
Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide.
He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations.
As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all.
Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
Hajra Shannon
Reviewer
Hajra Shannona is a highly experienced journalist with over 9 years of expertise in news writing, investigative reporting, and political analysis.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and has contributed to reputable publications focusing on global affairs, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
Hajra's authoritative voice and trustworthy reporting reflect her commitment to delivering insightful news content.
Beyond journalism, she enjoys exploring new cultures through travel and pursuing outdoor photography
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