By Aaron Miller-
Hollywood actors will go on strike as from midnight over pay issues.
SAG-AFTRA – Hollywood’s largest union, representing 160,000 film and television actors – and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are demanding increases in base pay and residuals in the streaming TV era plus assurances that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).
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The strike begins at midnight after its national board voted unanimously to authorize the walkout, the actors’ union announced on Thursday after a deadline to reach a new contract expired on Wednesday.
The strike is the first time in 63 years that the the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA will be on strike at the same time.
RA said the industrial action is an expression of anger over pay, conditions and concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) – would begin at midnight Los Angeles time.
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Actors and performers across the board of Hollywood are said to be committed to the strike and the underlying reason for it.
As the strike was announced, stars including Matt Damon(pictured) walked out of the London premiere of historical epic Oppenheimer to “write their picket signs”, the film’s director Christopher Nolan said.
Speaking on stage at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, he said: “I have to acknowledge the work of our incredible cast, led by Cillian Murphy.
“The list is enormous – Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek and so many more. You’ve seen them here earlier on the red carpet.
Fran Drescher, former star of “The Nanny” TV show and the president of SAG-AFTRA, called the studios’ responses to actors’ concerns insulting and disrespectful as he said: “I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us.
He continued: “I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things, how they plead poverty that they’re losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions to their CEOs. It is disgusting.”
Meanwhile, The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the trade association that negotiates on behalf of Netflix Inc (NFLX.O), Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and other production companies, said it was “deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations.”
Several top Hollywood actors have already supported the strike, including Margot Robbie from the upcoming Barbie movie.
In a news conference announcing the strike, SAG-AFTRA executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland described the action as a “last resort” and said it had come after four weeks of talks.
He accused industry body the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) of “devaluing the work of our members” and said it had been “unwilling to offer a fair deal on key issues essential to protecting the livelihoods of working actors and performers”.
“Actors deserve a contract that reflects the changes that have taken place in the industry,” he added.
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher added: “This is a moment of history that is a moment of truth..
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