Actors and actresses in the US are going on strike. After negotiations with the association of TV and film studios AMPTP could not reach an agreement, the work will be stopped from midnight, the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA announced at a press conference in Los Angeles. Among other things, the actors demand better remuneration and the regulation of the use of artificial intelligence in the industry.
“We had no choice,” said union leader Fran Drescher (“Die Nanny”) at the press conference. “We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity.” The members of her union should no longer be “sidelined and treated with disrespect and dishonor”.
Hard hit for the US entertainment industry
Both sides had previously called in an arbitrator. Despite this, no agreement could be reached by the deadline set by the actors’ union. “I honestly can’t believe how far apart we are on so many things,” said Drescher.
The association of TV and film studios AMPTP – which represents Netflix, Amazon, Apple and Disney, among others – defended itself. An attempt was made to find an agreement, it said in a statement. The union has now “unfortunately sought a way that will lead to financial problems for the countless thousands of people who depend on the industry”.
The strike is another hard blow for the entertainment industry in the US, as screenwriters have already walked out of work since May 2nd. Their strike is already having an impact on viewers. For example, many late-night shows can no longer be broadcast as usual. According to estimates by the US media, films and series can hardly be shot with a double strike.
Strike is binding: No more in front of the camera
Both creative industries are suffering from the fact that although more films and series are being produced, budgets are falling and series are often shot with fewer episodes per season. In addition, unlike on television, repetitions with streaming providers bring lower royalties for the creatives and are independent of the number of viewers.
The SAG-AFTRA union has more than 160,000 members, including film and television actors, stunt performers, TV journalists and presenters. However, the strike only affects actors and actresses for series and films. It is binding for all of them, they are no longer allowed to work in front of the camera until further notice.
Around 65,000 union members took part in a ballot on June 7, and 97.9 percent voted in favor of a strike. In addition, stars such as Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Ben Stiller and Pedro Pascal publicly expressed their solidarity. Actors in the film ‘Oppenheimer’, including Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, walked out of a London premiere on Thursday after appearing on the red carpet in solidarity with the strike.
