Hollywood Actor And Writer Strike Could Be The Beginning Of A Labor Revolution
Image Source: Deadline
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood studios set their sights on streaming with the indefinite closure of movie theaters. Although theaters are back on the scene, studios are still focused on streaming as the big money maker. The issue with streaming is actors’ contracts rely on residuals from rebroadcasts of their programs. Since streaming is constantly available, the format puts a huge dent in actors’ residuals. Writers are facing similar problems, leading to a dual strike between the WGA and SAG-AFTRA against the AMPTP.
Bob Iger, Disney CEO, called the unions’ expectations disruptive and criticized the strike’s disruption as the studios are recovering from the pandemic. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher disputed Iger and the AMPTP’S claims, “We are the victims here, We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us. I cannot believe it, quite frankly: How far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty, that they’re losing money left and right, when giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment.”
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Image Source: The Economist
The widening pay gap between the studio heads and the creative professionals ignited anger and resentment among writers and actors. Ron Pearlman shared a profanity-laced message that was promptly deleted, asking for dignity for actors. Some union members see history repeating itself as writers and actors strike together for the first time since 1960. The difference is today there’s more universal support across the guilds. Matthew D. Loeb, President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, commented on the gravity of the moment, “The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. Our industry is at a crossroads, and the actions taken now will affect the future of labor relations in Hollywood and beyond. Their fight today foreshadows our fight tomorrow.”
With support within and beyond Hollywood, the guilds have a real chance to spark fundamental change in the industry. In the meantime, Mark Ruffalo suggests that actors seize productions by participating in Indie films.
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Source(s): Los Angeles Times, AP News
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