Ted Lasso headliner Jason Sudekis and other major film and TV actors joined the picket line alongside the screenwriters on Friday in the first full day of a walkout that has become Hollywood’s biggest labor struggle in decades.
Mr Sudeikis was among the protesters outside the NBC offices in New York. ‘Lord of the Rings’ star Sean Astin joined strikers protesting outside Netflix’s Hollywood headquarters. Also present in front of Netflix were “Titanic” and “Unforgiven” actress Frances Fisher and former “The Nanny” star Fran Drescher, also president of the Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG).
The actors’ arrival energized the walkout outside the Netflix offices, where music blared and the sidewalks were filled with protesters.
Elsewhere, ‘Once Upon a Time’ actor Ginnifer Goodwin was among the protesters outside Paramount Pictures.
These pickets come the day after the decision of the main actors’ union to call a work stoppage in turn. This is the first joint strike by actors and screenwriters in more than six decades. The dispute immediately halted production in the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with studios and streaming services broke down.
The famous faces of Oscar and Emmy winners are likely to be seen with some regularity on the picket lines, in New York and Los Angeles, adding a layer of notoriety to protests outside studios and corporate offices.
65,000 more protesters
In recent weeks, many actors have shown their solidarity with the screenwriters, who began their walkout in May. Now, 65,000 members of the actors’ union will officially join them on strike.
Both unions are experiencing similar issues with studios and online broadcasters. They worry about contracts that compensate creators and actors for the use of their material beyond the original airing, such as in reruns or on streaming services. The unions also want to put in place safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence mimicking their work in film and television.
Fran Drescher strongly denounced studios and streaming services when announcing the unanimous vote of union leaders in favor of the strike on Thursday. “We are victims of a very greedy entity,” she said.
“I am shocked by the way the people we have dealt with treat us. I can’t believe, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things. They plead poverty by claiming they are losing money left and right while handing hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. »
No negotiations in sight
No discussion is scheduled and no end to the work stoppage is in sight. It is the first time that the two unions have left the sets since 1960, when former President Ronald Reagan, then an actor, was the leader of the SAG.
The Alliance of Film and TV Producers, which represents employers including Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others, lamented the walkout, saying it will hurt thousands of workers in industries that support film production and television.
The actors’ strike will affect more than the shooting. Stars will no longer be allowed to promote their work via red carpet premieres or personal appearances. They cannot campaign for the Emmys or participate in auditions or rehearsals.
Although international filming can technically continue, the stoppage of screenwriters and actors established in the United States may also disrupt them.
The writers’ strike immediately halted late-night talk shows and “Saturday Night Live,” as well as several scripted shows including “Stranger Things” on Netflix, “Hacks” on Max and “Family Guy” on Fox.
Other series could be interrupted since the actors have also launched a work stoppage.