Following months of negotiations, the Screen Actors Guild has announced that they will begin striking tonight at one minute past minute and will begin picketing at all the major studios.

The SAG-AFTRA’s national board voted unanimously earlier today to launch the first major strike since 1980, joining the Writer’s Guild Of America, which began striking in May.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland announced the strike at a press conference at the guild’s national headquarters in Los Angeles.

Check out the full press conference below:

With the Actor now on strike, this means that any actor who is a SAG member, that is currently working on any film or show currently in production, will be on strike from tonight. It also means that an Actor will not be promoting their upcoming shows or films such as attending events, conducting interviews or any other type of promotion.

The studios have been preparing for the summer strikes, filming as many films, shows and promotional items as possible before the deadline, originally set for last month, but was extended for the July 4th holiday.

The actors and writers are striking over many issues, including the use of AI and also residuals, from streaming platforms, which are drastically lower than that of linear television.

The strike’s impact will be far-reaching, impacting much more than just the actors, since without the actors, filming won’t be happening on shows and films.  However, unscripted content and some animated series/films will continue to be produced.  Anything that has already been filmed, will still be able to go through post-production to get it ready for release, though any reshoots wouldn’t be able to occur. Internationally, filming maybe impacted, though there are different unions in place, for example, in the UK.

The AMPTP, which includes Disney, has also issued a statement regarding the strike:

AMPTP member companies entered the negotiations with SAG-AFTRA with the goal of forging a new, mutually beneficial contract. The AMPTP presented a deal that offered historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, and a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses for SAG-AFTRA members. A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life. The Union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.

Here are some of the components of the Producers’ offer that SAG-AFTRA has chosen to forgo in favor of a strike:

• The highest percentage increase in minimums in 35 years
• 76% increase in High Budget SVOD foreign residuals
• Substantial increases in pension and health contribution caps
• Groundbreaking AI proposal which protects performers’ digital likenesses, including a requirement for performer’s consent for the creation and use of digital replicas or for digital alterations of a performance.
• 58% increase in salaries for major role (guest star) performers wages on High Budget SVOD Programs.
• Limitation of self-tape requests, including page, time and tech requirements. Options for virtual or in-person auditions.
• 11% pay increase in year 1 for background actors, stand-ins and photo doubles, an additional 17% increase for background actors required to do extensive self-styling, and an additional 62% increase for stand-ins required to deliver lines during a run-through and photo doubles required to memorize and deliver lines on camera.

• First-time-ever fixed residuals for Stunt Coordinators on television and High Budget SVOD programs.
• Shortened option periods for series regulars earning less than $65,000 per episode on a half-hour series or less than $70,000 per episode on a one-hour series.
• Dancers will now receive the on-camera rate for rehearsal days.
• Additional payments of 25% for dancers required to sing on camera during principal photography and for singers required to dance on camera.
• First-of-its-kind provision establishing rates, terms and conditions for High Budget Programs made for AVOD.
• Hair and make-up consultation for performers of all complexions and hair textures.
• Limits on the amount of initial compensation that can be advanced or prepaid as residuals.

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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