Hollywood Actors Set to Go on Strike as SAG Prepares for Historic Walkout

The American film and TV industry is on the brink of a virtual shutdown as the Hollywood actors’ union prepares to go on strike, joining the ongoing writers’ strike. After a month of tense negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and major studios, talks collapsed at the midnight deadline on Wednesday, July 12. The union’s negotiating committee unanimously recommended a strike vote by its national board, with the announcement expected later in the day. This marks the first time in 63 years that both Hollywood actors and writers have been on strike simultaneously.

The actors’ union blames the studios for being “unwilling to offer a fair deal” and accuses them of “intransigence and delay tactics.” SAG-AFTRA’s president, Fran Drescher, expressed disappointment at the studios’ response, calling it “insulting and disrespectful.” On the other hand, the studio group shifted blame to the actors, claiming that SAG-AFTRA had walked away from talks despite the studios offering “historic” pay increases and benefits.

The joint strike by actors and writers will significantly impact the American film and television industry. Any remaining projects still in production without writers’ involvement will be halted, further delaying the completion of TV shows and movies. The strike could potentially disrupt the Emmy Awards and dampen the lineup at San Diego Comic-Con.

The actors’ demands include better pay, regulated use of artificial intelligence, improved benefit plans, and compensation for “self-taped auditions.” They argue that their pay has been affected by inflation and the changing streaming landscape. While negotiations initially seemed promising, an open letter from over 1,000 SAG members, including prominent stars like Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence, expressed willingness to strike if all demands were unmet.

The strike comes at a transformative moment in the entertainment industry, with both actors and writers raising similar concerns. The studios had reached a settlement with the Directors Guild of America but failed to bridge the gap with the writers and actors. As film and TV sets were already shut down in May due to the writers’ strike, the addition of actors on picket lines will bring global production to a halt, impacting highly anticipated series and films.

The outcome of the strike remains uncertain, but it highlights the increasing challenges faced by actors and writers in the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry.

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