Hollywood is in trouble if performers join the writers already striking against pay and AI concerns (Picture: Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
A number of Hollywood actors could go on strike very soon.
It all started when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike began in May, after they failed to reach an agreement with trade association Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over pay.
It comes at a time where streaming sites are changing the way Hollywood operates, affecting writers and actors alike.
‘While the companies are making billions of dollars, spending more and more on streaming, writers are making less and less. That’s untenable. It’s unsustainable,’ Chris Keyser, co-chair of the negotiating committee, told LA Times ahead of the May strike.
The strike has resulted in various shows going dark, including The Talk, Saturday Night Live, and late-night programmes presented by Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.
But now, members of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) trade union – which represents around 160,000 performers – are also having their say.
Hollywood actors could be taking to the picket line with the union if a ‘transformative’ contract isn’t drawn up before the current one runs out at midnight tonight.
Meryl Streep signed a letter demanding a ‘transformative deal’ (Picture: Arturo Holmes/WireImage)
Jennifer Lawrence joined Meryl in a lineup of stars demanding change (Picture: James Devaney/GC Images)
Rami Malek also signed the letter, which said this was ‘not a time to meet in the middle’ (Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
In early June, SAG-AFTRA members voted to authorize a strike by a 98% margin if a secure deal can’t be made before the deadline, and the union has been in contract talks since.
Some Hollywood legends who are members, including Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and Glenn Close signed a letter asking for the union to bag a ‘transformative deal’.
Amy Poehler, Rami Malek and John Leguizamo also signed the letter, which warned now was ‘not a time to meet in the middle’ in negotiations.
‘A strike brings incredible hardships to so many, and no one wants it,’ the letter said, ‘But we are prepared to strike if it comes to that.’
Although the contract deadline expires tonight, negotiations could continue beyond.
The last time actors and writers both went on strike in Southern California was in the 1960s (Picture: Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Writers have been striking since May (Picture: Los Angeles Times via Getty Image)
The last time actors and writers were on strike in Southern California simultaneously was 60 years ago.
The argument of the Hollywood stars is that streaming services have changed the way actors are paid, to their detriment.
Pre-streaming sites, artists would get ‘residual’ payment every time the film or TV show aired, which would keep their income trickling in during potential dips in work.
‘While new business models mean that more and more SAG-AFTRA content is monetized around the globe, residuals payments are failing to reflect the economic value of this exhibition,’ the union told members recently.
Other aims are safeguarding against AI, as performers worry about the new technology mimicking their imagery, facial expressions, body movements, and even voices.
Stars like Tom Cruise and Keaunu Reeves have been subject to eerily realistic deep fakes – totally fabricated videos pretending to be them.
Actors are also concerned about the rise in ‘self-taped’ audition videos since the Covid-19 pandemic, which put the cost burden of trying out for a role on performers, and not the production teams who prior to the trend covered the cost.
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Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and Rami Malek all signed a litter demanding ‘transformative’ change.