Hollywood grinds to a halt as world’s biggest stars vote to strike

Hollywood will grind to a halt after leaders of a major actors union voted to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced early Thursday morning that negotiations for higher wages from studios had ended without a deal.

By Thursday afternoon, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland announced the union leadership officially voted for a work stoppage to begin at midnight after their demands for higher wages and protections against artificial intelligence were not met.

Under the rules of a strike, SAG-AFTRA members would not be able to film any movie or TV series, take part in any press or film premieres or promote anything at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con.

The announcement marks the first strike for actors from film and television shows since 1980. It is also the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors’ guild president. 

The cast of Oppenheimer walked out of the film’s UK premiere after the strike was announced

Announcing the strike Thursday afternoon, actress Fran Drescher, who serves as the president of SAG-AFTRA, said ‘We demand respect! You cannot exist without us!’

‘What happens to us is important,’ The Nanny star said. ‘What’s happening to us is happening across all fields of labor. 

‘When employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors who make the machine run, we have a problem.’

Almost immediately afterwards, picketing screenwriters outside Netflix’s Hollywood offices started chanting ‘Pay Your Actors!’ 

At the same time, the cast of Oppenheimer walked out of the film’s UK premiere in ‘solidarity’ with the actors’ union. 

But Disney boss Bob Iger had earlier argued that the actors were being ‘unreasonable’ with their demands.’ 

Disney CEO Bob Iger slammed actors who are threatening to go on strike on Thursday, saying they ‘are not being realistic’ and are being ‘disruptive’ to the industry

SAG-AFTRA was demanding higher pay to counteract inflation, and guarantees for their future livelihoods.

In addition to salaries when they are actively working, actors earn payments called ‘residuals’ every time a film or show they starred in is aired on network or cable — which is particularly helpful when performers are between projects.

But streamers like Netflix and Disney+ do not disclose viewing figures for their shows, and offer the same flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of its popularity.

Muddying the waters further is the issue of AI. 

The union was seeking ‘a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses.’ Actors are worried that their digital images could be used without their permission or proper compensation.

In a statement following the strike announcement, the Association of Motion Pictures and Television Producers said it was disappointed in the breakdown in negotiations.

‘This is the Union’s choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more,’ the group said in a statement.

Meryl Streep is set to strike following failed talks between the union and studios. She is pictured at ‘The Laundromat’ premiere, at the Toronto International Film Festival, in Canada, September 9, 2019. Jennifer Lawrence is also set to strike. She is pictured on the set of a Longines watch commercial on June 29, 2023 in New York City

Mark Ruffalo (left at the premiere of ‘Lakota Nation vs. United States’ in New York City) is also set to strike, as is Quinta Brunson (right at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Awards)

Before talks began June 7, the 65,000 actors who cast ballots voted overwhelmingly union leaders to send them into a strike, as the Writers Guild of America did when their deal expired more than two months ago.

When the initial deadline approached in late June, more than 1,000 members of the union, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Bob Odenkirk, added their names to a letter signaling to leaders their willingness to strike.

It added that instead of continuing to negotiate, ‘SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.’

The union said in a statement that any Emmy campaigning by actors will immediately grind to a halt, and the strike could threaten the annual awards show, with its leaders mulling a delay to November or even next year.

Several actors have already been seen picketing in support of the Writers Guild. Seth Meyers is pictured on the picket line in May

Actress Jail Fonda is seen here supporting the Writers’ Guild strike last month

SAG-AFTRA represents more than 160,000 screen actors, broadcast journalists, announcers, hosts and stunt performers. 

But the walkout affects only the union´s 65,000 actors from television and film productions.

Meanwhile, the 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America have been on strike since their own talks collapsed and their contract expired on May 2. T

he stoppage has showed no signs of a solution, with no negotiations even planned.

That strike brought the immediate shutdown of late-night talk shows and Saturday Night Live, and several scripted shows, including Stranger Things on Netflix, Hacks on Max, and Family Guy on Fox, have either had their writers’ rooms or their production paused. 

Many more are sure to follow them now that performers have been pulled too.