As of September 26, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has reached an agreement with the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) on the contract proposed in early May 2023. You might be wondering what happened and how the massive strike unfolded. Well, you’re in luck, because I’ll be giving you a quick rundown on everything WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike-related. From the rules adhering members have to follow, to which celebrities have joined the picket lines to fight for the cause, and more.
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According to Time Magazine, on May 2nd the WGA and AMPTP failed to reach an agreement on issues such as their working conditions, how they are paid, and their concerns about the potential impact of AI on their employment security. Following the disputes, the WGA officially called an immediate strike. Later in July, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined the writers in the strike after their contract with AMPTP expired. This caused many TV and film productions to shut down indefinitely, costing big studios such as Disney, Netflix, and Amazon thousands of dollars. According to SAG-AFTRA member Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, in 2021 actors earned a median income of $46,960, with those in the lower quartile making just $30,040. Meanwhile, studio earnings have skyrocketed to over a whopping $12 billion annually. Many of those who earn $30k a year can’t even qualify for the union’s health care.
As a result, all SAG-AFTRA actors that are taking part in the strike are expected to follow certain rules. The strike demands that they not do any on-camera work, such as singing, acting, puppeteering, dancing, and stunts, or any off-camera work like voice acting, narrating, singing, and ADR. The rule that has affected us fans the most is that they can’t do any interviews, tours, and promotions via social media. This has halted many of our favorite celebrities’ careers, but this is for the better. Actors and writers deserve to receive fair compensation for their work and they will not rest until the big Hollywood executives answer to their needs.
Although the strike has no direct consequences for Puerto Rican performers and local entertainment industries, there are ways to support the picket lines. Spreading the word through social media and keeping up with the news is a great way to keep others in the loop. Also, the SAG-AFTRA website accepts online donations for union members in need.
Now, it’s time to highlight some of the notable celebrities who have shown support for the cause:
- Penn Badley (Gossip Girl, You)
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2. Margot Robbie (Barbie)
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3. Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter Franchise)
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4. Elliot Page (Juno, The Umbrella Academy)
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These are only a few of the many celebrities that have joined the picket lines. Prominent celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, and Leonardo DiCaprio have each generously contributed $1 million to SAG-AFTRA, while Dwayne Johnson has also made a substantial donation exceeding $1 million. The strikes have undoubtedly brought to light many important issues in the entertainment industry and it’s amazing to see the industry working together for one good cause. This serves as a reminder that progress and unification are possible. By working together, Hollywood can create a more promising and inclusive future for all SAG-AFTRA members, A-listers or not.