Hollywood writers strike: Hollywood actors are allowed to participate
LOS ANGELES –
Hollywood actors may be on the verge of joining screenwriters in what would be the industry’s first strike by two unions in more than six decades, with massive ramifications for film and television production. Here’s a look at how it might play out, and why it’s happening.
WHAT HAPPENING WITH THE ACTORS’ NEGOTIATIONS?
The contract between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists and the studios, streaming services and production companies that employ them expires Friday night at midnight Pacific time. Union-affiliated actors have voted overwhelmingly to authorize their leaders to call a strike if it does. But that’s hardly a hard deadline. Both sides have indicated they are willing to talk for possibly several days after the expiration, as happened before resolutions were reached in the same negotiations in 2014 and 2017.
Reports have said the talks have been productive. But some actors have expressed concern that their leaders may not be pushing hard enough. More than 1,000 of them, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Bob Odenkirk, have added their names to a letter to negotiators saying they are ready to strike, expressing concern that they are “ready to make sacrifices that leadership cannot is”. The letter states “this is not a time to meet halfway”.
The guild, led by president and former “Nanny” star Fran Drescher, represents more than 160,000 film actors, stunt performers, broadcast journalists, announcers and broadcasters, but a strike would only involve actors who work on television shows and movies.
WHAT DO THE ACTORS WANT?
Many of the same issues that drove writers to strike are on the table for actors, including what the guilds say is shrinking compensation caused by a streaming ecosystem in which royalty payments are no longer tied to a movie or TV show’s popularity. A role or a writing credit on a show that became a hit with longevity in reruns is no longer the cash cow it once was. And the unions say inflation is outpacing the planned wage increases within their contracts.
For scribes and artists alike, the move to streaming and its ripple effects have also led to shorter seasons of shows with longer intervals, and thus less work.
And like the writers, actors fear the threat of unregulated use of artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA said in a memo to members that AI’s burgeoning ability to mimic its members’ performance is “a real and imminent threat” that it wants to avoid.
Issues specific to actors include the new and increasing burden of self-recorded auditions – the cost of which used to be the responsibility of casting and productions.
HAVE HOLLYWOOD ACTORS GO ON STRIKE BEFORE?
Film and TV actors last went on strike for three months in 1980, although actors in commercials have since gone on strike twice. In general, they have had much more work rest than screenwriters, whose strikes are much more common. So is the current stalemate, with 11,500 Writers Guild of America members on strike for nearly two months with no end in sight.
In 1960, the actors’ union, led by then SAG president and future US president Ronald Reagan, went on strike for six weeks in the middle of a five-month writers’ strike. job at the same time.
Actors have shown widespread support for striking writers, with many joining them on picket lines in an act of what has hitherto been symbolic solidarity.
WHAT EFFECT WOULD THE COMBINED STROKES HAVE ON VIEWERS?
The writers’ strike had an almost immediate effect on late night talk shows, including NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and CBS’s “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” all of which immediately shut down. “Saturday Night Live” axed the last three episodes of the season.
In the two months since, many scripted TV shows have also stopped, including Netflix’s Stranger Things, Max’s Hacks, Showtime’s Yellow Jackets, and Apple TV+’s Severance. Some movies are also reportedly on hiatus.
Actors joining writers would force almost any other show or movie not yet shot into a similar shutdown. Upcoming seasons of television shows would be postponed indefinitely and movie releases will be postponed.
Streaming menus on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video won’t show any direct differences, though fans of the original series from those outlets should eventually wait longer for their favorites to return.
Exceptions are productions that take place outside the United States. And reality shows, game shows, and most daytime talk shows are unlikely to be affected.
The two strikes also cast doubt on the viability of the Emmy Awards, whose nominations are scheduled to be announced on July 12 ahead of a September ceremony, though the Tony Awards and BET Awards managed to get shows through. despite the writers’ strike.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE WRITERS?
The writers’ strike has led to continued protests and some large gatherings over the past two months, but no movement so far. No negotiations are currently taking place between the strikers and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, streamers and production companies in all industry union negotiations. The longest previous writers’ strike, in 1988, lasted five months.
In addition to the issues they have in common with actors, writers are particularly concerned about the shrinking staff used on shows, which they refer to as “mini-rooms.” They meant much less work and much less guarantees of future work.
The AMPTP says the writers’ demands require that they remain employed and be paid when there is no work for them. The group also said it had offered generous pay raises.
The two sides were so far apart during the negotiations that talks broke off hours before the contract expired. No one expects that to happen to actors on Friday, but whether a strike can be avoided in the coming days remains to be seen.
