EXCLUSIVE: Images show Wicked’s movie set being SLOPED after actor strikes brought Hollywood to a standstill – weeks after filming was halted for Ariana Grande’s new film
Hollywood and the creative industry in general have been dealt another blow following the announcement of a strike by the American actors’ union Sag-Aftra.
Strikes by sister unions in the US have already derailed several productions and industry events in recent months.
Here’s what you need to know about the strike.
Who’s on strike?
Sag-Aftra, the American union representing thousands of industry professionals, officially announced a strike on Thursday.
The union, with about 160,000 members, represents actors in film, television and radio.
It is the union’s first major member strike in more than 40 years.
It comes as more than 11,500 Writers Guild of America (WGA) members also remain on strike, having started their own campaign on May 2.
Why do the actors stand out?
The strike was called after Sag-Aftra failed to sign new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Negotiations with the AMPTP had been going on for more than four weeks and the contracts expired at midnight Pacific time (8am UK time) on Wednesday, having been previously postponed from 30 June.
Topics under negotiation included base compensation, which actors say has been undermined by inflation and the streaming services, the threat of unregulated use of artificial intelligence, and benefit plans.
In an earlier statement, Fran Drescher, president of Sag-Aftra, said the AMPTP’s response to the union’s proposals was “offensive and disrespectful to our tremendous contributions to this industry.”
Does the strike only affect actors in the US?
Sag-Aftra has members around the world, all of whom are expected to respect union decisions.
“Simply put, a Sag-Aftra member must always work under a union contract anywhere in the world,” the union’s website states.
Which big names publicly support the strike?
Several Hollywood stars, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Ben Stiller, have previously expressed support for strike action if a deal with AMPTP could not be reached.
On Thursday, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Sir Kenneth Branagh and Rami Malek left the London premiere of the upcoming blockbuster Oppenheimer.
Sir Kenneth Branagh told PA news agency beforehand: “Everyone is working very hard to make sure it doesn’t happen, if it does happen I stand in solidarity with our Sag members.”
Murphy told PA, “I stand with my colleagues, that’s all I can say.”
What are striking actors not allowed to do?
The union’s Global Rule One states, “No member shall provide services or enter into an agreement to provide services for an employer who has not entered into a minimum basic agreement with the union.”
It clarifies that members are not contracted to work on films, scripted television, commercials, non-broadcast, interactive, new media, independent and student film productions, among others.
“If you are behind a microphone or in front of a camera, you should assume that (Global Rule One) applies until and unless an authorized Sag-Aftra representative confirms that it does not,” the union’s website said. .
Sag-Aftra says it takes the rule “very seriously,” with violations leading to disciplinary action ranging from reprimands to fines and removal from the union.
How long will the strike last?
Sag-Aftra has not given a time limit for the strike, which will begin at midnight Pacific time (8am UK time) on Friday.
When asked how long the strike would last, Ms. Drescher said at a press conference in Los Angeles, “That’s up to (the AMPTP), we’re open to talking to them tonight.
“This is all because of their behavior, it’s up to them whether they want to talk in a normal way.”
How will this affect productions in the UK?
A number of major projects currently underway in the UK could be affected by the strike.
Among them is the superhero blockbuster Deadpool 3, starring Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman – whose planned release date of May 2024 may be significantly affected by the strike.
Similarly, the new film Wicked starring American singer Ariana Grande, actress Cynthia Erivo, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, which is being shot in a Buckinghamshire village, may also be affected as its release date is currently set for November next year.
Other British productions include Beetlejuice 2, vampire thriller The Radleys and psychological thriller Speak No Evil.
The second series of the hit HBO TV series House Of The Dragon and Netflix’s The Sandman could also be affected, if actors are unable to participate under union guidelines.
What does it mean for the upcoming awards ceremony?
The strike casts much doubt over upcoming awards shows, including the 75th annual Emmy Awards, for which nominations were announced Wednesday.
Sag-Aftra chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told a press conference on Thursday: “I expect this will bring all Emmy campaigns to an end.”
How will the strike affect films that have already been shot?
The strike does not allow actors to participate in any kind of promotion for films.
Some studios, including Disney, have said they still plan to host events, including world premieres, though there are no opportunities for press interviews.
How does the Sag-Aftra strike compare to the Hollywood writers’ strike?
On Thursday, the WGA entered its 73rd day of strike, after their own contracts also expired earlier this year.
The writers’ union, which has about 20,000 members, is mainly on strike because of royalties from streaming media.
Among other things, the WGA is pushing for a higher minimum wage, more writers per show, and less exclusivity for individual projects — all of which it says have been reduced during the explosive growth of the streaming era.