Despite the actors’ and screenwriters’ strikes in Hollywood, 200 projects are still running. These are independent productions financed independently of the major studios. However, SAG-AFTRA is reviewing all contracts to ensure that none of the striking studios participate as co-producers. If everything is found to be in order, then its members are allowed to take part. Some artists, however, criticize these exceptions because they see them as a threat to cohesion.

However, anyone who wants to go into independent production will have to commit to the union that they will fulfill all the demands of the industry. In doing so, SAG-AFTRA is forcing the giant corporations to apologize. So far they have argued that the demands of the actors’ union are excessive and unrealistic. But if independent producers without big budgets can meet the demands, “how unrealistic are they really?” union chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree Ireland asked on a broadcast.

Why is the strike taking place?

Hollywood and the demand for better pay at first glance seems like a contradiction. But we don’t mean actresses like Margot Robbie, who stars and co-produced the hit Barbie movie and has already made $50 million from the project. The aim of the union was to improve the pay for those actors who do not have many appearances.

Product prices and inflation are also rising in the US and the union is asking for a corresponding price indexation. In addition, the actors’ union calls for the protection of rights related to the personality of artists and where artificial intelligence is used. Through new technology, scans of actors’ faces and bodies can be taken and, with the help of artificial intelligence, reused without having to re-enact real people. However, the union is also asking for a new fee for any further use outside of the one and specific project for which the scans were made.

Frontal attack

Studios represented in the Motion Picture and Television Studios Association, including major multinationals such as Disney, Warner Bros, Paramount, Amazon and Netflix, reject the actors’ demands as excessive and unrealistic. The two sides have so far failed to find a compromise solution and experts estimate that the strikes may last for months. Many famous and rich actors like George Clooney and Meryl Streep are standing in solidarity and have donated millions to a special fund set up to help the weakest members.

This is the first major strike of the sector after 60 years with 160,000 organized members in the union. Added to them are 65,000 members who are presenters, announcers, dancers and professionals from related industries.