The Hollywood actors have decided to join the screenwriters, who have been on strike for two months. A double clutch that could paralyze many productions in cinema, television or even on streaming platforms.
After the screenwriters, the actors in turn want to shut down Hollywood. For the first time since July 1980, the date of their last strike, the American union Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) called for disengagement from Friday July 14. It represents nearly 160,000 professionals.
>> Actors’ strike in Hollywood: five questions about this movement which risks paralyzing American production of films and series
Actors and screenwriters are asking for an increase in their remuneration, which is falling in the era of streaming. They also want to obtain guarantees regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI), to prevent the latter from generating scripts or cloning their voice and image.
No more filming or promotion for the actors
The world of American cinema had already been idling since May, and the scriptwriters’ strike, but a large number of large productions now risk being completely shut down. SAG-AFTRA called for the walkout on Friday, for an indefinite period. In this case, it is impossible to shoot films or series, even those whose script is already completely written, such as Rings of Powerprequel series of Lord of the Ringsproduced by Amazon.
Actors are also banned from “off-camera” activity, according to guidelines published by SAG-AFTRA. This includes audio dubbing, stunts, singing, but also activities to promote a film, even on social networks. What put in difficulty the summer blockbusters, like the highly anticipated Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan. At the film’s London premiere on Thursday, the film’s cast even left the event in a show of solidarity, according to variety.
Strike pickets are also organized this Friday, on various filming sites of Disney, Amazon or Warner Bros.
Staggered outings
The longer the strike lasts, the more the delays will accumulate. This could cause big shifts in the release dates of some big blockbusters, which are currently in production. We can mention the movies Ghostbusters 4, Mufasa: The Lion King or even the Avatar 3 and 4, which are being created. Their releases are not planned for several months (December 2023 for Ghostbusters), or even years (not before December 2025 for Avatar 3), but this kind of film requires a lot of post-production work. So there is a lot of time between the start of filming and the theatrical release.
Series are also likely to be affected, whether produced for television or streaming platforms. The shootings of NCISof the simpsonsor the prequel to Game Of Thrones from HBO, House of the Dragon could be affected.
Major cultural events under threat
If the strike, for the moment renewable, lasts several weeks, even months, big Hollywood events are also threatened. With in the first place the Comic-Con, the high mass of geeks and lovers of American comic books. It should take place without a big star, from July 20 in San Diego. The absence of American actors is also bad news for major international festivals, such as the Venice Film Festival.
Finally, even the Emmy Awards ceremony, the equivalent of the Oscars for television, scheduled for September 18, is threatened. The production is already considering postponing the event to November, or even to 2024, according to the American press.