SAG Goes On Strike – Hollywood Is In Shutdown

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) has officially called a strike, bringing Hollywood to a standstill.

This historic decision comes after contract talks with major film and television companies collapsed, leaving the union with no choice but to take action. This marks the first “double strike” involving both actors and writers since 1960, as Hollywood’s writers remain on strike.

The SAG-AFTRA Strike

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As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the work stoppage will impact 160,000 union members and began at midnight. The union’s national executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, stated that the failed talks left the union “with no choice” but to call a strike. Union president Fran Drescher accused the studios of pleading poverty while giving millions to CEOs, describing the situation as “disgusting” and “shame on them.”

The studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), responded by claiming that they had 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.

The Impact on Hollywood

Credit: R. L. Oliver, Los Angeles Times

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The strike will have an immediate impact on all remaining U.S. union physical production. Without actors, those projects will have to press pause immediately. Even before the announcement, insurance companies were declining to bond indie film productions until at least June 30, when SAG-AFTRA’s contract expired.

The news of the strike has already had a significant impact on Hollywood events. As reported by Deadline, the cast of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer left the film’s London premiere before the screening in response to the strike. Nolan told the crowd that the cast was “off to write their picket signs” for what they believed to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining the Writers Guild in the struggle for fair wages for working members of their union.

Final Thoughts on the SAG strike

Credit: R. L. Oliver, Los Angeles Times

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The SAG-AFTRA strike marks a significant moment in Hollywood history, with the potential to reshape the industry’s approach to labour negotiations. The strike’s impact will be felt not only by the actors and writers involved but also by the wider Hollywood community, including producers, directors, and crew members.

As the situation continues to develop, all eyes will be on Hollywood to see how it responds to this unprecedented challenge. The hope is that a resolution can be found that respects the rights and contributions of all those who bring our favourite films and TV shows to life.

What do you make of this news? Do you think that the SAG strikes will help to change the future of Hollywood? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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