As the sun sets on another summer in Hollywood, an escalating atmosphere of discontent shadows the bright lights of the film and television industry. With the possibility of actors joining writers in a substantial ‘double strike,’ Hollywood could be on the brink of a production halt that has not been witnessed since the Ronald Reagan led standoff of 1960.
In a scene reminiscent of high-stakes drama, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) is currently locked in 11th-hour negotiations with industry powerhouses such as Netflix and Disney. A midnight Friday deadline hangs ominously over the discussions.
With 160,000 members, SAG-AFTRA represents a significant slice of Hollywood’s actors and performers. These range from A-list celebrities to background extras, all of whom have pre-approved industrial action should the negotiations fail to yield a satisfactory deal.
However, this is more than just a dramatic Hollywood plot twist. It is a story about labor rights, the changing landscape of the entertainment industry, and the struggle for fair compensation in the face of rising inflation.
Actors are asking for increased pay to counteract the effects of inflation and ensure their future livelihoods. This demand comes from the observation that earning a living in Hollywood has become “massively harder,” even for established actors.
Rebecca Metz, known for her roles in FX’s “Better Things” and Showtime’s “Shameless,” shared her experiences, explaining that actors’ income is often overestimated. While the assumption might be that those on screen must be rich, the reality, especially in recent years, has been extremely different.
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As part of their compensation, actors earn residuals—payments received each time a film or show they starred in is aired. However, with the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, these residuals have dwindled. Streaming giants often do not disclose viewing figures and offer the same low rate for all their content, regardless of its popularity.
Artificial intelligence further complicates matters. The increasing use of technology in the industry is a double-edged sword. While it opens up new opportunities, it also poses threats. Actors are seeking regulations to prevent unauthorized use of their voices and likenesses.
Moreover, the shift toward ‘self-taped auditions’ has added to the grievances. Although this method was used occasionally before the pandemic when in-person auditions were impossible, it has now become commonplace. This process burdens actors logistically and technologically and deprives them of crucial feedback.
The fate of the strike is still up in the air, leaving Hollywood in suspense. If actors join the writers on the picket lines, the impact on the film and television industry will be dramatic and far-reaching[^1^].
News based on the Malaymail website.
