Over 60,000 actors have joined the writers in a historic Hollywood strike, resulting in secured contracts for both unions. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Performers (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike on July 14, joining the screenwriters who had walked off the job two months earlier. This marked the first time in over six decades that these two unions were on strike together.
The negotiations between the studios and writers concluded first, with an agreement reached on September 26. Studios such as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Universal were directly involved in the negotiations, which were led by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Although the terms of the agreement were not immediately released, SAG-AFTRA announced that details would be made public after a meeting on Friday, once the contract was reviewed by board members.
The agreement addressed various issues, including short-term compensation, future royalty payments for film and TV performances, and control over actors’ images and likenesses generated with artificial intelligence. While the impact of the actors’ absence during the strike may not have been immediately apparent, its ripple effects such as delayed release dates and waiting for new show seasons could be felt for months or even years.
With the strike now over, actors are expected to quickly return to movie sets where productions were paused, including films like Deadpool 3, Gladiator 2, and Wicked. Additionally, other movies and shows will resume shooting once the returning writers finish their scripts. The end of the strike also allows actors to participate in red carpet events, talk shows, and podcasts as Hollywood’s awards season approaches.
The strike had an effect on major awards shows, with the Emmys being moved from September to January. However, industry normalcy may only be temporary, as the underlying issues that led to the strikes, such as the shift to streaming and emerging technologies like AI, continue to persist. The gains made by the strikes may also encourage other Hollywood unions to take similar actions in future negotiations.
Union leaders saw the strike as a significant moment, considering it occurred amidst broader labor fights in other industries. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher highlighted the need to address the culture of big business and how it treats workers at all levels in the pursuit of profit. The executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, expressed satisfaction in securing a fair contract that would protect members’ future opportunities in the industry.
The agreement not only benefits actors but also allows thousands of film crew members to return to work after a period of inactivity. SAG-AFTRA made interim agreements for smaller productions and made their strike relief fund accessible to all industry workers to alleviate the hardships faced during the strike.
As the industry seeks to regain normalcy, the circumstances that initiated the strikes, namely the changing landscape of media consumption and the advancement of technology, continue to shape the entertainment industry. The resolution of these strikes may serve as a precedent for future negotiations that will inevitably arise in the coming years.
