Is the actors strike still going on? (Daily SAG strike updates)

Updated: July 28, 2023 – It’s official. July 14, 2023 marked the first day of the SAG-AFTRA strike, also known as the actors strike. The union couldn’t reach an agreement with the AMPTP over contracts by the deadline on July 12. This was with an extension of the deadline, which was previously June 30, and federal mediation.

The issue is the lack of pay that keeps up with the changing business model the studios are operating under that’s made it difficult for actors in the industry to be fairly compensated especially when it comes to residuals from work on streaming projects. There’s also the threat of A.I. which has made it possible to scan the bodies of those employed on a project to be used in that title and elsewhere without their consent in perpetuity and without compensation.

Why are the actors striking?

The union, who have laid out what they’d consider to be a fair agreement between the studios and members, have authorized a work stoppage causing a halt to productions in the U.S. and across the globe. As reported by Backstage, SAG-AFTRA has gone on strike because the following needs were not being met in the agreement being negotiated:

"According to a statement from the union, “We need a contract that will increase contributions to our benefit plans and protect members from erosion of income due to inflation and reduced residuals, unregulated use of generative AI, and demanding self-taped auditions.” Issues on the table include:Money: SAG wants the AMPTP to provide better compensation and benefits for its members.Residuals: Current residual payments don’t reflect the value of member contributions. According to the union, they’re “undercut by inflation and by a streaming ecosystem through which producers pay less residual income than traditional exhibition models.”Generative AI: The union is requesting that the AMPTP provide protections for members against misuse of artificial intelligence, as well as a definition of acceptable use of the technology.Self-tapes: Without regulation regarding self-taped auditions, SAG alleges that performers currently face an unfairly arduous casting process. “The shift to burdensome and unreasonably demanding self-taped auditions means that our members are working harder than ever, forced to take on audition costs that have always been the responsibility of casting and production,” the union’s statement reads."

Hidden Remote will be keeping up with the latest developments regarding the actors strike. Keep reading for day-to-day updates.

Is the actors strike still going on?

With reporting from Deadline:

July 28, 2023

After weeks of speculation, the 2023 Emmy Awards have officially been postponed. Though an exact date has not been decided, Deadline reports that they’re hearing January might be the new timeframe. As long as the writers and actors are striking, an award show like this is simply not possible.

July 27, 2023

More stars have been spotted out on the picket lines, including Jason Sudeikis, Ron Perlman, and other familiar faces. Star Wars cosplayers joined actors at Warner Bros. in Los Angeles, while John Oliver and Ziwe joined a group of comedy writers outside NBCUniversal in New York.

July 26, 2023

More and more TV shows and movies are being put on hold by the day, including Silo season 2 which is reported to be on an “indefinite hiatus.” Filming on Wicked halted just days before they were scheduled to finish. Completed movies are also being pushed back, as actors are not able to promote them, including Challengers, Problemista, and White Bird. It’s also been reported that Dune: Part Two and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom might be pushed back to later dates.

July 25, 2023

Celebrities and supporters hit the streets of New York City to rally around the actors strike, with many big-name actors showing up. Several gave speeches, including Bryan Cranston, Christian Slater, Christine Baranski, and Arian Moayed. Check out Cranston’s empowered speech, where he touched on A.I., actor compensation, and other issues, below:

George R.R. Martin took to his blog to discuss the ongoing writers and actors strikes, sharing support for both. He also commented on the fact that House of the Dragon season 2 is continuing to film, explaining that because the actors are part of the British trade union Equity instead of SAG-AFTRA, they can keep filming. In fact, they have to. In line with the British laws, the actors are not allowed to strike in solidarity or else they could be fired or even sued.

“Honestly, I was shocked to hear that,” Martin wrote, also confirming his overall deal with HBO was suspended on June 1.

July 14, 2023

The first day of picketing has begun. Protests are expected to take place outside of Disney, Fox, Paramount, Universal, Netflix, Sony, and Amazon studios and networks in Los Angeles and New York.

Actors’ Equity president Kate Shindle urges stage actors not to break the SAG-AFTRA strike by performing struck work. The organization represents stage actors and stage managers. Full statement, here.

"I cannot overstate how critical it is for members (and future members!) of to proactively and aggressively avoid breaking the @sagaftra strike. If you are offered work of any kind for an #AMPTP employer, don’t take any third party’s word for it that ‘it’s okay’ or ‘it’s not covered by the strike’…Call @sagaftra and ask whether performing the work in question will undermine the strike."

Deadpool 3 has paused production in the wake of the actors strike. The film is expected to premiere May 3, 2024. It had been moved up on Marvel’s movie release calendar due to the writers strike. There’s been no word yet if the pause will cause the film to be moved back to a Nov. 8, 2024 release date.

Mortal Kombat 2 and Peacock’s Apples Never Fall have also stopped production. The projects, which were being filmed in Australia, are among what’s being described as a “limited” amount of SAG-affiliated productions that have had to halt filming for now.

Screen Producers Australia believes the strike will be felt primarily by non-Australian productions. As for the country’s own projects that include SAG members, local scripted productions that are also produced and controlled by the nation’s own production companies won’t be affected as long as all of the casts are being engaged with under Australian Industry Contracts in accordance with the Global Rule One Agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance.

July 13, 2023

House of the Dragon and Industry will stay in production despite the actors strike. Both series are filming in the U.K. The largely British cast of HotD are working under Equity contracts and not SAG-AFTRA agreements. Industry also operates under Equity rules and, though the cast does include U.S. actors Myha’la Herrold and Ken Leung, guidance about the strike has reportedly given the greenlight to SAG-AFTRA actors working under Equity contracts to continue working. Both shows will continue shooting through the summer.

Dune: The Sisterhood is set to resume filming after a planned hiatus. Production will start up again in Budapest. Though the cast does include SAG actors, like House of the Dragon and Industry, they’ll be exempt from the work stoppage because of their Equity contracts. They could boycott if they choose, however, these are British Equity agreements and, due to UK anti-strike laws, they could be sued and forced back to set for doing so.

The actors strike will not include members who work in news and broadcast. Continuing their duties will not be considered conducting struck work as their agreements as anchors and reporters fall under a different contract.