The Screen Actors Guild of the United States (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike, joining the Screen Writers Guild, whose members had gone on picket lines 70 days earlier. Together, the two guilds went on strike for the first time in 60 years. Later in the article, we will find out what the actors expected from the protests and how their decision affected the global film industry. But during the golden age of Hollywood, there were no protests. Read more on losangeles1.one.
The beginning of the strike
The Screen Writers Guild began its protest on May 2, 2023. But the protesters managed to achieve the greatest publicity only after the Hollywood Screen Actors Guild, which has about 160,000 members, joined the strike. According to the Guild’s demands, during the entire period of the indefinite strike, actors could not act in films and television series, voice characters or perform stunts: everything related to the filming process was prohibited. Any marketing activities involving the actors, including press conferences, interviews, attending awards, and appearances on red carpets, were also banned.
In 2023, the SAG-AFTRA began negotiations on the terms of new contracts. Before that, 97.91% of actors who were members of the Guild voted to strike if negotiations with a group of studios and streaming platforms failed. Tensions rose when the parties extended the negotiations, which were held in strict secrecy, for another 12 days, failing to meet the deadline.
The strike was officially announced on July 13, 2023, after the final internal meeting of SAG-AFTRA. Fran Drescher, President of the Guild, made an emotional speech, “This is a very seminal hour for us. I went in in earnest thinking that we would be able to avert a strike. The gravity of this move is not lost on me, or our negotiating committee, or our board members. It’s a very serious thing that impacts thousands, if not millions, of people all across this country and around the world — not only members of this union, but people who work in other industries. And so it came with great sadness that we came to this crossroads. But we had no choice. We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity.”
If the writers’ strike meant that projects already written could theoretically continue to be filmed (if they did not require script changes and if they did not physically take place in Los Angeles), the actors’ strike meant a complete shutdown of the film industry. Such a shutdown not only caused huge losses for the studios, for all businesses that serve Hollywood, but also required financial sacrifices from the strike participants.
What did the protesters demand?
The actors’ demands largely overlapped with those of the screenwriters. SAG-AFTRA members were extremely concerned about the unregulated use of artificial intelligence (for example, an actor can be “scanned” by paying them for only one shift and then using a digital version of them). They demanded tangible royalties if films and TV series with their participation were posted on streaming platforms.
As streaming is a relatively new phenomenon in the industry, the copyright for what is shown on the platforms has long remained in a gray area that was not specified in the actor’s contract. But there were also negotiation positions specific to actors, such as self-testing, which has become widespread during the coronavirus pandemic (when actors film themselves instead of coming to auditions). Auditions are also work, and the conditions should be transparent and subject to the Guild’s control.
Among the films and TV series whose production was postponed as a result of the strike: Stranger Things, Hacks, The Last of Us, American Horror Story, Yellowjackets, The Morning Show, The Handmaid’s Tale, Wednesday, Euphoria, Avatar 3, Gladiator 2, Beatlejuice 2, Deadpool 3 and others.
The only other occupations allowed by the Guild were theater, audiobooks, voice acting for animated films, podcasts, reality shows, video games and educational programs.
How did the protests end?
The union considered the agreement a triumph. According to Kevin Klowden, the Executive Director of MI Finance at the Milken Institute, the strike cost the US economy approximately $5 billion. The new three-year agreement between the filmmakers and the union primarily provided for wage increases and protection of screenwriters from being replaced by artificial intelligence.
The use of artificial intelligence in the process of creating scripts has become more transparent. According to the new contract, studios are not allowed to use it to create or rewrite any literary material. At the same time, screenwriters can use artificial intelligence as a tool at their own discretion, provided that it is agreed with the company they work for.
Under the new contract, screenwriters also receive an improved remuneration system, better health insurance and pension contributions, as well as bonuses depending on the number of views of their films, series and shows on streaming platforms.
The last point is that the remuneration of screenwriters, reflecting the success of their programs, has been one of the WGA’s top priorities. The union has succeeded in getting streaming platforms to provide data on the number of hours of viewing at home and abroad. Besides, the amount of the bonus for screenwriters is calculated based on these figures.
Who else benefited from the strike?
In addition to the Screenwriters Guild, which achieved better working conditions for its members, the strike indirectly had several other unexpected beneficiaries.
After a lull in new movies and TV shows, the TV series Force Majeure suddenly became popular again. For almost three months, it topped the ranking of the most watched content on streaming platforms in America, despite the fact that its last season was filmed in 2019. Perhaps the Americans chose it because one of its stars is Meghan Markle, who became the Duchess of Sussex.
Another successful outcome of the strike was the Strike Force Five podcast by five leading American TV hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver and Jimmy Fallon, in which they shared stories about the behind-the-scenes of their programs. The goal of the podcast was to attract sponsors to donate the funds raised to the staff of their frozen programs, who had no income during the strike.
Consequences of the strike
The last strike of this magnitude in Hollywood took place in the 1960s. Back then, SAG president Ronald Reagan was able to negotiate an agreement under which actors received payments for screenings of their films on small screens.
The strike in 2008 led to the rise of the once niche genre of reality TV. When professional actors were replaced by real people. This laid the groundwork for the emergence of influencers who show that they can compete with mainstream stars in popularity.
However, experts believe that the economy will not displace the Hollywood world, but rather will give impetus to a new era of successful cooperation. SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said that the union does not consider Hollywood and the digital content creator community to be very different. He expects that the distance between them will gradually decrease.
According to him, whether people consume content in traditional forms or new formats, the main thing is the unique element – human creativity. Every figure in this field does something unique, and it doesn’t matter how it is distributed, whether it is on YouTube, TikTok, Reels, or in cinemas.