Hollywood is shutting down.  Thursday morning, SAG-AFTRA’s national board voted unanimously to launch the guild’s first strike against the film and television industry since 1980, specifically the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers).

The strike is set to begin tonight at one minute past midnight, with picketing beginning tomorrow at all the major studios.  It has been declared against all of the covered services under the Producer – SAG-AFTRA Codified Basic Agreement and SAG-AFTRA Television Agreements and their related agreements (“TV/Theatrical Contracts”).  This was first instituted in 2014 and ratified in 2017 and 2020.

The strike does not affect actors or production under the National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, also known as the Network Television Code.  Daytime soap operas fall under this contract.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland spoke at a livestream news conference from the Los Angeles headquarters of the guild with further details on why the union has come to this decision and the unfair treatment of their labor union when trying to update existing contracts and updating them to the current business model studios are using.

Photo: SAG-AFTRA

During the strike, union actors will not be allowed to campaign for their just announced Primetime Emmy nominations, or attend premieres. award shows, or promotional events surrounding any show or movie that has an upcoming release or a previous release if it falls under the TV and film contract, and all work on all productions under this contract with the AMPTP must be halted.

An emotional Drescher said on the livestream: “This is a very seminal hour for us. I went in thinking that we would be able to avert a strike. The gravity of this move is not lost on me.  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 that service the people that work in this industry. We had no choice. We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity,”

The former star of the Nanny went on to say she was ‘shocked’ by the AMPTP. “I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things. It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history.”  Drescher added, that the actors can’t keep being, “marginalized, disrespected and dishonored by a business model that has been changed by streaming. If we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business.”

Photo: AP

The AMPTP felt their offer was historic in nature, to which Drescher replied was“egregious and disgusting”.  Crabtree-Island cited one example of the contract failure, “This ‘groundbreaking’ AI proposal that they gave us yesterday that our background performers should be able to be scanned and get paid for one day’s pay and their companies should own that scan their image, their likeness to be able to use it for the rest of eternity in any project they want with no consent and no compensation, if you think that’s a groundbreaking proposal I suggest you think again.”

Drescher also previously shared in a statement “We negotiated in good faith and was eager to reach a deal that sufficiently addressed performer needs, but the AMPTP’s responses to the union’s most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry. The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal.”

Crabtree-Ireland: added: “The studios and streamers have implemented massive unilateral changes in our industry’s business model, while at the same time insisting on keeping our contracts frozen in amber. That’s not how you treat a valued, respected partner and essential contributor. Their refusal to meaningfully engage with our key proposals and the fundamental disrespect shown to our members is what has brought us to this point. The studios and streamers have underestimated our members’ resolve, as they are about to fully discover.”

Earlier the AMPTP issued a statement citing: “We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations. This is the Union’s choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more. Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.”

With the WGA Writers Strike now on its 73rd day, and SAG-AFTRA about to join their sister union, if their is no resolution through the summer more scripted series as well as motion pictures will have serious delays.  Impact on the economy is said to be in the millions in California and around the U.S. and the world.

You can watch the SAG-AFTRA press conference below.

What are your thoughts of the actors now joining the writers in a labor walk out, Hollywood-style? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.