The SAG/AFTRA strike is on. So what does it mean?
On July 13, SAG-AFTRA announced he strike. Here’s what that means according to CNBC,
- Wage increases: “SAG-AFTRA wants increases that make up for the high inflation we’ve had recently,” says entertainment lawyer Jonathan Handel. Wages differ depending on performer, but a non-background actor’s minimum rate for a film with a total budget greater than $2,000,000 was $3,756 per week at the end of the last contract.
- Residuals in streaming: “There is a residuals formula already but the union wants an additional formula that would apply to shows that are successful and would reward the actors in excess,” says Handel.
- AI use: “The actors don’t want to be displaced by technology and certainly not without being compensated for it,” says Handel. AI is currently being used for effects like de-aging an actor, but according to SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, among studios’ suggestions for AI is the ability to use the likeness of background actors who’ve been paid for one day’s work in perpetuity without pay or consent. The AMPTP has refuted this.
- Virtual auditions: Historically, actors would go to a physical location to audition. Now, “you tape an audition yourself at home,” says Handel. That’s meant actors have to take on the job of camera person and editor. They have to makes sure there’s someone to read opposite them and that there’s an adequate space in their homes to record. “People are finding themselves spending money to apply for jobs”…
As far as what the strike means for actors’ day-to-day work, they’re barred from doing the various duties of their jobs including acting, singing and dancing on camera and voice acting and narrating off camera.
Working actor Luke Cook, from shows like The Thrilling Adventures of Sabrina, Dynasty and Dollface posted a video explanation of what the strike means for 95% of working actors in the union,
I’ve had lots of comments the last few days like ‘get a better job’” or “’ or ‘maybe you’re just not that good at acting’, ‘“’google says you’re a millionaire so stop complaining’ or “but what about teachers and nurses’ and I understand these sentiments, it’s not a simple issue…”
Drag Race‘s Queen of All Queens, Jinkx Monsoon, who is also member of SAG, responding to Cook’s post, had thoughts on drag performers and those thinking of taking jobs and becoming a “scab”…
ATTENTION all drag artists and queer entertainers, content creators, influencers, et al. #SAGAFTRAstrike.
Btw, there is a scab reporting site for the strike.
Watch.
— Jinkx Monsoon (@JinkxMonsoon) July 16, 2023
The strike does not include live performances, podcast, etc, btw. Jinkx explains further…
since there appears to be some confusion… pic.twitter.com/WVXewlM9BH
— Jinkx Monsoon (@JinkxMonsoon) July 16, 2023
