The Hollywood heavyweights are coming out in support of the actors’ strike, which officially kicks off at midnight on Thursday.
After a month of tense negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the major studios, talks collapsed Wednesday at Midnight (PDT) and the union’s negotiating committee unanimously recommended a vote by its national council to call a strike. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher appeared at a press conference Thursday afternoon, where the strike was officially announced.
The actors join the surprising Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on the picket line since May 2, to shut down production of large parts of the American film and television industry.
Jeremy Renner showed his support for the strike in an Instagram Story on Thursday morning highlighting “A necessary change…”
Star “Barbie”. Margot Robbie told Sky News he supported and reportedly observed the strike: “I am very supportive of all unions and I am part of the SAG. So I would absolutely support it.”
While talking to the Associated Press at a promotional event for “Oppenheimer” in London before the vote, Matt Damon stressed the importance of outstanding payments.
“What we would strike for, if we strike, is incredibly important,” she told the outlet. “We need to protect people who are on the fringe a little bit. $26,000 a year is what you need to do to get your health insurance. And there are a lot of people who are the outstanding payments that take them over that threshold. If those payments residues run out, as well as their health care, and this is absolutely unacceptable”.
Citing director Christopher Nolan, the BBC reports that Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt walked out of the film’s UK premiere due to the strike.
SAG-AFTRA strike live updates:What to know as Hollywood actors prepare for picket line
Octavia Spencer shared a letter of support for SAG-AFTRA from Teamsters, the International Alliance of Theater Stage Employees (IATSE), the Writers Guild, and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) on Instagram.
“I’m with my fellow #SAGAFTRAMembers during the #SAGStrike along with the #WGA in their fight,” Spencer captioned the post. “And I support the many skilled union workers in all industries who deserve fair compensation. We can’t do it without each other.”
Trevor Donovan advised his Twitter followers to turn on Netflix to see a portrayal of the actors’ concerns.
“If you’re new to the entertainment industry and curious about a major concern driving the #SAGAFTRA strike, I recommend watching the ‘Black Mirror’ episode ‘Joan Is Awful'” he wrote. “It serves as a powerful warning of the growing presence of artificial intelligence in entertainment and the need to promptly address its impact.”
Matthew Modine reflected on becoming “a proud member” of SAG in 1981.
“From the moment I joined, SAG has always had my back,” read its statement sent via email on Thursday. “Let us unite, artists, filmmakers and industry professionals, in firm support for the strike. Together, we demand fairness, fair treatment and a future where the contributions of every member of the entertainment industry are valued and respected. Our solidarity is our strength as we strive to create a more just and inclusive landscape for generations to come.
‘We are the victims here’:Hollywood actors go on strike, shut down the film and television industry
Jack Quaid tweeted“If we are going to strike THEN WE SHOULD STRIIIIIIIKEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”
Taraji P. Henson considers the actors’ requests incredibly reasonable.
Greed will be the end of humanity,” he predicted. That’s what’s going to kill us all, and the thing actors ask for is common sense. You can’t use my likeness and get paid, and I see nothing. This is just a highway robbery.
While promoting his new film ‘Haunted Mansion’ in an Instagram post on Wednesday, Jamie Lee Curtis addressed the strike. “The souls of the ghosts of artists have long been urging us in this modern moment to fight for our rights to exist as creators,” he wrote. “What I will say is that although I AM computer generated (playing him), it is BY MY PERFORMANCE, my sense of comedic timing and you CANNOT replicate that with a machine. I am STRONG with my union @sagaftra”
Writers’ strike 2023 explained:Why the WGA is out, what it means for TV and cinema
Contributor: Kelly Lawler
#Matt #Damon #Jamie #Lee #Curtis
Image Source : www.usatoday.com