Julia Louis-Dreyfus Makes Surprise Appearance at Telluride Film Festival Amidst Screen Actors Guild Strike
A surprise guest took the stage at the Telluride Film Festival’s Chuck Jones Theater on Thursday evening, leaving the audience in awe. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, known for her roles in shows like “Veep” and “Seinfeld,” stepped up to the podium to promote her new film, “Tuesday.” What made her appearance even more remarkable was that she was the first actor at Telluride to take advantage of one of the Screen Actors Guild’s interim agreements.
Louis-Dreyfus, who has actively participated in the strike, wanted to explain her actions to the audience who had expected a star-free premiere. She expressed her solidarity with the union and the Writers Guild of America, thanking them for fighting for actors across the nation. She also thanked A24, the studio behind “Tuesday,” for signing the interim agreement. Louis-Dreyfus questioned why bigger studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture Television Producers, couldn’t do the same.
The Screen Actors Guild has been working to navigate the fall festival season amidst the ongoing strike. Louis-Dreyfus and actress Emma Stone provided examples of how actors might still participate in festivals while supporting the strike. Stone, who stars in and produced the film “Poor Things,” a Searchlight production, found a low-key strategy to attend Telluride without drawing too much attention. Other actors, including Sandra Hüller, Laura Linney, Maya Hawke, and Dakota Johnson, also made appearances at the festival on behalf of films covered by interim agreements.
The introduction of interim agreements by SAG initially raised questions among some members, including Sarah Silverman. However, the guild issued a statement encouraging members to take advantage of these agreements, emphasizing that they protect the interests of their members.
The signs of the strike were subtle but noticeable at Telluride. The Chuck Jones Theater, usually sponsored by Netflix with their logo prominently displayed, opted to forgo logo signage this year due to the strike. This allowed Louis-Dreyfus to speak without an AMPTP company logo looming behind her. Even local businesses in the town showed support, with one coffee shop offering free oat milk to SAG-AFTRA members.
As the strike continues, the presence of actors at film festivals raises questions about the impact on the marketplace and the ongoing negotiations between SAG and the AMPTP. However, the determination of actors like Julia Louis-Dreyfus to stand in solidarity with their union and fight for their rights remains strong.