AJ Buckley on writers strikes
Hollywood actors have officially gone on strike – leaving the movie industry in absolute chaos.
A union representing 160,000 actors are now joining the writers strike after failing to come to an agreement with industry bosses by Wednesday night’s deadline – and have sammmed “disgusting and shameful” movie execs.
With the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Writers Guild of America both taking to the picket lines, the first both actors and writes have gone on strike at the same time in 60 years, there will be an unprecedented impact on our viewing habits.
The generation-defining decision was announced at a press conference today by SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator.
They insisted the strike was a final resort and compared the current contract situation with “moving around furniture on the Titanic”.
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The Sag-Aftra committee unanimously voted to strike in the highest numbers ever and the national board agreed with their decision.
Their recommendation came aftermore than four weeks of bargaining with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents major studios and streaming platforms from Amazon Prime Video to Warner Bros.
Crabtree-Ireland said the AMPTP were “unwilling to offer a fair deal on key issues” and the current streaming model had cut residual incoming to performers.
He claimed striking was an “instrument of last resort” and it would beging at midnight tonight – with actors joining the picket line on Friday morning.
In her passionate speach, Drescher said she was “shocked” by the way they had been treated.
“I can’t believe how far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty while giving hundreds of millions of dollars to CEOs,” she said.
“It’s disgusting. Shame on them.”
Drescher compared the situation to “moving around furniture on the Titanic”, adding: “It’s crazy. We stand tall. You have to wake up and smell the coffee.”
In their scathing statement on Thursday morning, Sag-Aftra claimed the AMPTP “remains unwilling to offer a fair deal”.
It read: “The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us.
“Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal. We have no choice but to move forward in unity, and on behalf of our membership, with a strike recommendation to our national board.”
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Global stars like Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence added their names to a letter in June urging union leaders not to settle.
The combined strike could delay the Emmy Awards, San Diego Comic-Con and even have a major impact on the LA economy.
Even though this summer’s blockbusters, such as Barbie and Oppenheimer, have already been filmed, they will be impacted as the cast may not take part in further promotional activities.
Oppenheimer’s London premiere was moved back to earlier in the day so that cast members could leave.
Director Christopher Nolan announced that the actors had decided to leave early so join the picket line.
Stars such as Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Ramy Malek walked out in solidarity with their fellow actors.
“You’ve seen them here earlier on the red carpet,” Nolan announced to the audience.
“Unfortunately, they’re off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by Sag, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of the unions, and we support them.”
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