Title: Hollywood Enters Largest Strike in Over 60 Years, Impacting Major Productions
Subtitle: Actors and Screenwriters Join Forces, Demanding Fair Pay, Improved Working Conditions, and Protection against AI
Date: 14 July 2023, 19:10 BST | Updated 20 minutes ago
In a historic show of solidarity, Hollywood actors and screenwriters, including big names like Jason Sudeikis and Susan Sarandon, have united on picket lines as the entertainment industry faces its biggest strike in over six decades. The strike, triggered by frustrations over pay, working conditions, and the lack of protections against artificial intelligence (AI) advances, has already had a significant impact on major film productions and industry events.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated the strike in May, prompting the involvement of 160,000 performers who joined the cause at midnight on Thursday. Talks for a new contract between the guilds and studios and streaming giants, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), broke down on Thursday, with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) accusing the AMPTP of being “unwilling to offer a fair deal.”
As a result of the strike, actors are prohibited from appearing in films or promoting movies, potentially affecting high-profile productions such as Avatar and Gladiator sequels. Brian Cox, lead actor of HBO’s Succession, estimated that the strike could last “until the end of the year,” pointing to the significant impact of streaming platforms on the industry’s financial landscape.
The strike has garnered support from celebrities across the movie and television business, with stars from the upcoming Oppenheimer movie even walking off the red carpet in solidarity. The demands put forward by the guilds include better pay, increased royalties, enhanced contributions to pension and health plans, and safeguards regarding the use of AI in the industry.
Notable film franchises like Avatar, Deadpool, and Gladiator, as well as popular shows like Stranger Things, Family Guy, and The Simpsons, are expected to be affected by the strike, leading to potential delays in their production. Furthermore, red-carpet premieres, promotional interviews, the Emmys, and Comic-Con have already been hindered, rescheduled, or scaled back due to the ongoing strike.
The strike’s motivation is fueled by the entertainment industry’s uneasy transition into the era of digital streaming, coupled with broader technological advancements. The concern over the impact of AI on the industry has been vocalized by Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon, who highlighted the need for foresight in implementing measures to address these challenges.
Both actors and screenwriters have experienced declining pay and contracts undercut by inflation. Actors are now earning less per role, requiring them to take on additional projects to maintain their income. Writing contracts have become less favorable, often excluding payment for revisions or new material created by the writers.
Fran Drescher, the current SAG president, emphasized that the industry’s treatment of workers reflects greed and victimization. These sentiments mark the first tandem strike in the industry since 1960, with the last actors’ strike occurring in 1980 and lasting for 10 weeks.
While the Directors Guild of America (DGA) has negotiated its own contract separately, it stands in solidarity with the striking unions. However, in the UK, actors represented by the UK’s Equity union, SAG’s sister union, are obliged to continue working under different employment laws.
As the strike continues with the potential to persist for months, cinemas may face difficulties, and viewers may find themselves limited to reality TV and live sports. In response, the White House provided a statement, expressing President Joe Biden’s support for workers’ rights to strike and hopes for a mutually beneficial agreement.
The impact of the strike extends beyond the United States, as US companies are being closely monitored by UK unions to prevent the relocation of US productions to the UK.
In this critical moment for the entertainment industry, actors and screenwriters are relentless in their pursuit of fair treatment, recognizing that the outcome of this strike will shape the future of Hollywood.