The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has officially gone on strike. The largest union in Hollywood is participating in the first joint strike since 1960.
When did the strike begin?
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher announced the strike on July 13, 2023, after the guild’s contract with the American Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired. The SAG-AFTRA National Board approved the walkout after Hollywood studios and streaming services failed to revise contracts with the actors’ union. The AMPTP represents Hollywood’s studios and production companies such as Netflix, NBC Universal, Disney, Apple, Amazon, and Paramount/CBS.
The prominent union represents nearly 160,000 actors, making upcoming projects almost impossible to complete and unsuccessful.
The SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP join the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which went on strike back in May after failing to reach an agreement with Hollywood producers on details such as better pay and the use of artificial intelligence.
The strike impacts Hollywood’s most talented minds who are behind some of our favorite binge-watch nights. For instance, due to the strike, season three of Euphoria has been postponed until 2026.
P-Valley creator Katori Hall confirmed the halt in production of season three in a tweet back in May.
“Like many of my fellow showrunners, I feel as though my writing & producing duties are inextricably linked. We will not be filming until a fair deal is reached,” Hall tweeted. “I am also a member of the #DGA, whose #AMPTP contract begins negotiations TODAY. Overlapping issues abound and we shall see how these stories end. As a writer I strike with a sense of radical dignity — that our work must be valued for the magic it is. #WGAStrong #WritersStrike.”
Production for other shows such asThe Chi, Stranger Things, The White Lotus and Emily in Paris, have been delayed. Colleen Hoover fans were disappointed to hear the upcoming film, It Ends With Us, has stopped production indefinitely amid the strike.
Celebrities are also taking part in the strike.
Despite thousands being out of work, celebrities and activists are rallying behind the cause.
Actress Joey King shared photos of her picketing on Instagram with local supporters. She says this movement is needed, and she is glad it is happening. Kerry Washington posted her message of allegiance and pictures on Twitter.
“This strike is so necessary,” King said. “I am so proud to be a part of a union fighting for a fair contract for all members.”
“It was an honor and a privilege to be out striking with the writers today,” Washington tweeted. “I stand in solidarity with my fellow SAG-AFTRA members, and we will fight together to make sure our voices are heard.”
Fran Drescher is best known for her lead role in the 90s sitcom “The Nanny.” She stole hearts as Fran Fine, but Drescher became the SAG-AFTRA President since then. In a recent speech, she insisted on being heard while reprimanding Hollywood studios.
“It came with great sadness that we came to this crossroads, but we had no choice,” Drescher said. “We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. I am shocked by the way the people we have been in business with are treating us.”
Dwayne Johnson made a seven-figure donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to aid those impacted by the strike.
“It is a call to arms for all of us to know that we just have to step up however you can,”SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance told Variety on Johnson’s donations. “If your step up is $10, step up. Because that $10 is going to help somebody. If it’s $10,000, if it’s $10 million, step up, because we have to. Everyone knows what happens when you go on strike, when you stand for something — as the saying goes, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything — you can’t stand unless you have support underneath you, on the side, up top and up front. So Dwayne is letting everyone know, ‘I’m here. What are you going to do?’”
Influencers are also lending their support after SAG-AFTRA bars them from working with studios. Courtney Quinn, who goes by @colormecourtney on Instagram and has over 1.2 million followers on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, opted out of promoting the Barbie movie and changed the theme of her birthday party, in solidarity with the union.
President Biden weighed in on the strike while speaking at a White House Disney+ streaming.
“I sincerely hope the writers strike in Hollywood gets resolved and the writers are given the fair deal they deserve as soon as possible,” Biden said.
There is no clear date when the strike will come to an end.
