Hollywood is currently facing a major setback due to a strike involving thousands of film and TV actors, who have joined the writers in their ongoing strike that has been going on for 11 weeks. The strike was formally declared by a union representing Hollywood on Thursday, citing issues related to artificial intelligence (AI), wages, and the fair distribution of profits in the new digital era, as reported by The Guardian.
It’s 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 Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) initiated their strike on Friday, joining the writers who have been on strike since May. The strike has now brought together approximately 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and around 16,000 members of SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is a moment of history, a moment of truth – if we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble.” Drescher emphasized the need to take a stand and highlighted the necessity of adapting the contract to reflect the significant changes in the business model.
In summary, the strike in Hollywood, involving both writers and actors, is a response to concerns regarding AI, wages, and fair profit sharing in the digital era. The united effort aims to address these issues and ensure the industry adapts to the evolving landscape.
During the premiere of the movie “Oppenheimer” in the United Kingdom, the cast walked out, and Director Christopher Nolan informed the audience that the cast had left to make their protest signs in support of the strike.
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