SAG-AFTRA members in all likelihood are preparing to begin their Actors strike since the previous contract’s extended deadline lapsed as of July 12. Though actors won’t be alone at the picketing lines as WGA members have also extended their support stating that the two sides of the union, will engage in a “double strike” in solidarity as many tweeted. the Writers Guild has been on strike since the start of May. The looming SAG strike has productions like Mortal Kombat 2 and Gladiator 2 getting ready to stop filming.
History repeats as the imminent SAG-AFTRA strike looks to kick off for the same reasons the Actors Strike took place in 1960. As one screenwriter Scott Collette pointed out on Twitter, the central concern were over residuals and “lack of transparency on the 12-year-old “new medium” of broadcasting.” But what makes it a historic moment is the SAG members will stand along with the Writers strike.
UPDATE: Effective July 14, at 12:01 a.m, the strike has been ordered by the voting committee
SAG is bargaining similar terms with AMPTP to sign a new contract that includes regulating AI use, residuals and economic fairness and “alleviating the burdens of the industry-wide shift to self-taping.” However, AMPTP’s official statement does not indicate they are interested in returning to the bargaining table. Nonetheless, several production are prepping to halt filming particularly Gladiator 2 from Ridley Scott shooting in Morocco and Mortal Kombat 2 rolling the cameras in Australia, as reported by Variety.
Actors Strike: SAG-AFTRA members are ready to picket with WGA in solidarity
It should be noted that SAG-AFTRA national board will vote on whether to proceed with a strike on Thursday morning. However, Actors part of the guild feel it is inevitable although unclear if the strike would continue for the long haul, similar to the WGA which is on the 73rd day.
A SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical/Streaming Strike has been ordered effective July 14, at 12:01 a.m. Additional details are forthcoming. The Strike Order can be found here: https://t.co/NFBM7lLGTs pic.twitter.com/SGjmR0BPeu
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 13, 2023
SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee voted unanimously to recommend to the National Board a strike of the Producers-SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical/Streaming Contracts which expired July 12, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
SAG-AFTRA’s National Board will vote Thursday morning on whether to strike. https://t.co/ZoDmoDYZc0
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 13, 2023
Ooooh, looks like I'm on double strike. https://t.co/lOltRWzkAA pic.twitter.com/RjOnokDVdP
— Randy Troy (@RandyTroy) July 13, 2023
Here we go https://t.co/FpWP3z4p0b
— Daniel Richtman #BlackLivesMatter (@DanielRPK) July 13, 2023
It’s the way WGA and #SAGAFTRA are effectively in a relationship with an abuser entity. AMPTP just lies, projects, gaslights and guilt trips. And tries to make the victim the one to blame for their own suffering and the suffering of others. This is insanity. #WGAStrike #SAGStrike pic.twitter.com/dJSunk06Ln
— Leigh Lewallen (@leighlew3) July 13, 2023
TIL that when SAG went on strike in 1960, the writers had already been on strike for five weeks and the studios brought in a federal mediator to find resolution.
Their main issue was residuals and a lack of transparency on the 12-year-old "new medium" of broadcasting. pic.twitter.com/hAA8XfVXke
— Scott Collette (@ScottJCollette) July 13, 2023
When we’re on a double strike, it’s because the AMPTP has failed. Their only job is to make a deal and they failed. They failed their customers, failed their execs, failed their shareholders, failed the cities they work and live in. They’re failures.
— Rachel Shukert (@RachelShukert) July 13, 2023
To give you a context of how historic a WGA/SAG strike would be, the last time this happened together not only was Eisenhower still president, but the actors union was lead by noted organizer and socialist, Ronald Reagan.
— C. Robert Cargill (@Massawyrm) July 13, 2023
NEW from me: With a SAG strike looming, some actors from "Orange Is the New Black" are speaking out about how they were never fairly compensated for a formative show of the streaming revolution. https://t.co/5hQboXfkYA
— Michael Schulman (@MJSchulman) July 12, 2023
POV: I just found out SAG is joining the strike! pic.twitter.com/V0MkIMobdk
— Camille Corbett (@TheWittyGirl) July 13, 2023
There may not be word on a SAG strike until tmrw AM when the Nat'l Board meets to vote on it. I'm off to bed b/c I'm old now & woke up too early for Emmys. Let's all pray for a Hot Labor Summer miracle, or else it's about to get ugly, though that may be just what this town needs.
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) July 13, 2023
DGA watching the WGA and SAG double strike: pic.twitter.com/gTyZi6f6pe
— Dan Park 박정훈 (@damnparka) July 13, 2023
this is history. very proud of SAG and the WGA right now 🤘🏾
— charlie soprano (@LittleCharlesTV) July 13, 2023
This is how all-encompassing the SAG strike will be. The studio heads are fucking COOKED. pic.twitter.com/MUzZVdUXL2
— Zee-briskie Point (@Zalifornia) July 13, 2023
every actor you can think of is a SAG member. this means no filming, no promo, no castings, NOTHING.
this is a literal hollywood shutdown. https://t.co/IGUWMmuVUl
— lori megan ☽ (@lorimeganxo) July 13, 2023
as a SAG and WGA member, let’s gooooo https://t.co/q8RObKUjRc
— Desus Nice💯 (@desusnice) July 13, 2023
Yall the SAG strike is not just for on camera acting. This will affect us as voice actors as well. So those of you saying "eh, ill just play video games/watch animation", yeah, those things may be pushed as well. pic.twitter.com/AjQy9g4IYW
— MiattaActinUp (@Miattaactsup) July 13, 2023
Some artists shared a reminder that voiceover actors are also members of SAG-AFTRA and would participate in the strict. So that includes dubbing for animation projects like DC Studios’ Creature Commandos and interactive video games.
When the Actors strike receives its green light, all productions across the world will be required to hit a pause. So more projects will soon follow Gladiator 2. Moreover, actors won’t be allowed to negotiate with studios as well which explains Anthony Carrigan’s representatives reportedly fast-tracking his agreement to play Metamorpho in Superman: Legacy.
This would also mean Oppenheimer and several other upcoming Hollywood projects won’t be able to organize red-carpet premiere events too. Nolan’s historical drama held its London premiere hours prior to avoid being impacted by a possible strike.
A few significant actors have begun speaking out on the impending Actors strike such as Shazam 2 star Rachel Zegler. The West Side Story actress is rather worried for the line workers & the impact that lies ahead from a SAG protest. “I am all for striking to get a fair deal for myself and my fellow actors but what happens to my tireless crew?,” she tweeted. Others such as Daredevil Born Again actor Vincent D’Onofrio have also been vocal providing on the imminent strike.
the SAG strike voting process has got to be one of the most tedious things i have ever experienced as an actor and that’s saying something
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
the contract is up right now but we have to wait for the national board to go ahead with a strike despite the fact that half of the members of the union turned up with a 98% YES to authorize it make it make sense
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
is anyone else thinking about below the line workers right now? i am all for striking to get a fair deal for myself and my fellow actors but what happens to my tireless crew? the ones who are here before and after i leave? what happens to them?
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
the more tedious this becomes the more infuriated i am that this industry remains wildly unfair to the people who work the hardest to keep it afloat. and spoiler alert: it’s usually not the people in charge.
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
movies do not get made without thousands of people who love to make them. but love isn’t enough sometimes. they need to be able to pay rent and put food on the table.
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
as someone in a privileged position— an actor who has been steadily employed the last four years (even though the pandemic) — let me shed some light on the fact that my work cannot get done without tireless hair and makeup artists, costumers, camera operators, technicians, sound,
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
prop masters, set decorators, productions assistants, craft service workers, WRITERS (!!!!!!!!!!), composers, musicians (especially in my filmography), background actors, stand-ins, stunt doubles, stunt coordinators, focus operators, and not to mention countless others with jobs
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
that are equally important that i cannot think of as i furiously type away for approximately no one to read.
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
this strike affects them, too. and as we inch towards it with uncertainty, i hope we’re thinking of them as well. because we would be nothing without them.
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
the strike is necessary. no one should have to prove the worth of the labor they provide. the success of our industry lies on ALL of us as a united front. but it’s important for me to share some perspective here. below the line workers will suffer.
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 13, 2023
SAG and WGA members are expected to be picketing together as several artists are part of both unions. So stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
