SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher says the actors guild is ready for a long strike.

While the duration of the strike is unknown, Drescher says they are looking to the long game.

“Right now, we discussed what it would cost if it went for six months, so we’re looking for the long haul,” said Drescher. “The gravity of a commitment like this is not lost on any of us. It’s major. But we also see that we have no future and no livelihood unless we take this action, unfortunately.”

Ms Shindle continues:

If you are offered work of any kind for an #AMPTP employer, don’t take *any* third party’s word for it that “it’s okay” or “it’s not covered by the strike”…Call @sagaftra and ask whether performing the work in question will undermine the strike.

If you don’t know whether you’re being asked to do struck work, that’s understandable; it’s a complex issue. But it’s on each of us to make sure we’re not betraying other workers, even if our faces won’t be on camera. Performing struck work creates a race to the bottom.

Work being withheld by @sagaftra members includes auditioning for #AMPTP projects, being on set, post-production, promotion, and more. When in doubt - or to report strike breaking activity - contact @sagaftra ASAP. Tons of additional info attached.

Every strike is important, but this one is existential. This is a generational battle for a fair and functioning entertainment industry, and our opponents have nearly unlimited resources. But we have the workers. We can do it. #ActorsStrike #1u

With SAG-AFTRA members joining the Writers Guild of America on strike from today, how does this impact the world of theatre?

Stage actors are represented by the Actors’ Equity Union which has 51,000 members nationwide, both professional actors and stage managers.

Broadway shows will not be affected by the strike as SAG-AFTRA members who appear in live theatre are signed on through Equity contracts, occasionally having dual memberships between unions.

To clarify the union’s position, Equity President Kate Shindle took to Twitter to explain to her members how to avoid breaking the strike.

I cannot overstate how critical it is for members (and future members!) of @ActorsEquity to proactively and aggressively avoid breaking the @sagaftra strike. Know this: the other side will try to pit us against each other to keep churning out content. Don’t fall for it.

Her post also includes a handy guide for SAG-AFTRA members about what they can and can’t do during the strike.

David Arditi writes:

As the television writers’ strike has dragged into its third month, actors are now joining them on the picket lines. Streaming culture was supposed to bring us unlimited access to TV and film content, but it has trapped many actors in a position of insecurity.

Read more...

Fran Drescher has spoken out in response to the backlash over a selfie with Kim Kardashian that was posted during the negotiations over Hollywood strikes.

Olivia Petter reports.

ICYM: Hollywood’s largest union, SAG-AFTRA, representing 160,000 film and television actors, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are demanding increases in base pay and residuals in the streaming TV era plus assurances that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence.