Explained: What Is The SAG-AFTRA Strike That Has Shut Down Hollywood?
Barbie's Margot Robbie is also supporting the strike!
Hollywood is currently embroiled in a major controversy as the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists aka SAG-AFTRA has declared a strike against all studios and streamers of the entertainment industry on July 14. The union which represents about 1,60,000 artists, hosts, performers, screenwriters, broadcast journalists and other media professionals, bargins with the AMPTP which represents the production houses, streaming platforms, studios and more. Want to understand what the ongoing controversy and strike are all about? Read on.
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That's a wrap!#SAGAFTRAstrike#SAGAFTRAstronghttps://t.co/EE6qPXDi3T pic.twitter.com/mNExBIgoPJ— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 14, 2023
Why Has SAG-AFTRA Declared A Strike?
SAG-AFTRA which represents 1,60,000 artists negotiates with the AMPTP every 3 years to renegotiate contracts. This year, as the contracts were set to expire on June 30, they were extended till July 12 to allow the unions to negotiate a deal that meets their needs. SAG-AFTRA members are demanding better pay, working conditions and protection against AI tools that threaten their work in Hollywood. However, the deal couldn’t be worked out after which the union declared a strike effective midnight on July 14.
"They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment. We stand in solidarity, in unprecedented unity."
Today, SAG-AFTRA's President Fran Drescher and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland announced the #SAGAFTRAstrike. 💪🪧 #SAGAFTRAstrong pic.twitter.com/vha7ZxuEv4
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 13, 2023
Also Read: Barbie’s London Premiere Had Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling Looking Like A Delicious Cassata Ice Cream!
What Are The Rules Of The SAG-AFTRA Strike?
As per the strike order, all SAG-AFTRA members have been asked to not be a part of anything that comes under the theatrical contracts. Apart from on-camera work for films, series and television, artists have been asked to stop background work as well as promotional work for the film including things like red carpets, interviews, social media promotions and more. Pre-production work like auditions and screen tests have also been banned under the strike. Further, SAG-AFTRA members are prohibited from negotiating, entering or consenting to any work or future projects till the end of the strike.
Additional details are now available.
Important information here: https://t.co/CHhKSGR5bD
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 14, 2023
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher delivered a scorching speech while announcing the strike during the press conference and said that the members of the union are being “victimized by a very greedy entity”. Expressing her shock at the way people in the entertainment business are treating the artists, the president of SAG-AFTRA that the members stand in solidarity and unprecedented unity in this situation.
We will be going live soon with a press conference from SAG-AFTRA Plaza regarding a TV/Theatrical/Streaming strike. #SAGAFTRAstrong https://t.co/pw0SJDzjpU
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 13, 2023
FYI, leading celebs including Keke Palmer, Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and more are supporting the SAG-AFTRA strike. The cast of Oppenheimer i.e., Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh left the UK Premiere of the film to support the strike as per the rules laid down by the union.
Explained: What Is The SAG-AFTRA Strike That Has Shut Down Hollywood?
First Published: July 14, 2023 4:23 PM
