Over 300 actors, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Neil Patrick Harris, Ben Stiller, and Rami Malek, have united and are threatening an imminent strike to demand improved working conditions.
Negotiations between the SAG-AFTRA trade union and major Hollywood studios are currently underway, covering various aspects such as audition conditions, compensation, and the ethical utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry.
With the union’s contract, representing the interests of television and radio stars, expiring on Friday, the actors penned an open letter to the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, expressing their readiness to take action. The letter highlights concerns about the gradual erosion of their incomes, creative freedom, and the collective strength they have built over the past decade.
The actors implore the negotiating committee not to compromise with the major studios, emphasizing that this is a critical moment that demands a firm stance. They recognize the significance of their actions, stating that they are being watched by those who came before them.
The letter also addresses the issue of AI in film technology, stressing the importance of protecting their rights and ensuring fair compensation when their images are employed in AI practices.
This movement echoes the demands put forth by the Writers Guild of America, a union representing writers and directors, in a previous message released in May. Screenwriters are seeking better wages and regulations regarding the use of AI in the production of films and series. The writers’ strike has already commenced and may potentially last for several months.
As a result of the ongoing strike, numerous high-profile film and television projects, including The Last of Us, the Game of Thrones spin-off, Spider-Man 4, and Mission: Impossible 8, have faced delays in their production schedules due to the unavailability of timely scripts.