Hollywood actors headed for strike after failed deal

The union that brings together the actors of hollywood He said Thursday that the negotiation with the US studios to avoid a paralysis of the industry ended without an agreement, which opens the way to a vote to decide if the interpreters go on strike.

He Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), which represents some 160,000 artists, including major movie stars, said the negotiations did not resolve their demands over higher wages and the threat posed by the use of artificial intelligence in the production of movies and TV shows.

Union negotiators have already unanimously recommended a strike to the national committee, which must vote on Thursday morning whether to proceed with action, according to a union statement.

The scriptwriters have been on strike for more than two months with pickets at the doors of studios such as Disney and Netflix.

If the actors also go on strike, the Hollywood industry would enter a standstill not seen since the 1960s, which would imply a near-total suspension of American movies and television productions.

Some reality, animation and talk shows could continue.

But drama series and other shows will face delays. And if the strikes spread, the next productions will also be put on hold.

“We are very disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to abandon the negotiations. It’s a union decision, not ours.”, declared the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP) early Thursday morning.

The Union SAG-AFTRA It represents big stars such as Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence or Glenn Close, among others, and all its members have already approved an action, in case an agreement is not reached.

Red carpets and events

In the event of a strike, the stars will not be able to promote their films and the red carpets will be suspended.

The writers’ strike had already reduced the number of movies and shows in production in Hollywood, but without actors the industry is forced to go on hiatus.

In London, the Wednesday night premiere of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” was moved up an hour so cast members Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon and Emily Blunt could participate without breaking the rules. union

The red carpet for the film in the United States is scheduled for Monday in New York, but in this new setting, the event seems unlikely.

Comic-Con, the world’s massive pop culture party taking place in San Diego next week, could also run out of stars.

Even the Emmy Awards ceremony on September 18 could be postponed to November or even relegated to next year.

“We hope that the union’s ongoing negotiations will reach a quick and equitable solution.“, said Frank Schermahead of the Television Academy, announcing the nominations for the 75th edition of the awards on Wednesday.

“Unwavering support and solidarity”

The last time Hollywood actors and screenwriters went out of business simultaneously was in 1960, when Ronald Reagan, actor and future president of the United States, led an action that eventually forced the studios to back down.

This time the actors, like the scriptwriters who have already been on the picket lines for eleven weeks, are asking for salary increases to face inflation and economic guarantees.

Artists get paid”residuals” made every time the channels air a movie or show they starred in, particularly useful when between projects.

But today, platforms like Netflix and Disney+ keep viewing statistics under lock and key, offering the same rate for everything they stream in their catalogues, regardless of popularity.

On the other hand, both actors and screenwriters want guarantees that the future use of artificial intelligence will be regulated, but the studios have refused to budge.

Unions representing managers and workers in the industry released a statement Wednesday to express their “unwavering support and solidarity” with the actors.

And he added that the workers of the industry are united “to prevent mega-corporations from destroying the conditions for which we had to fight for decades”.

Source: AFP