The writers and actors strikes crippled scripted television and the movie industry last summer. However, reality shows, variety series and game shows were able to continue filming thanks to operating under a different contract – the Network Television Code Contract. SAG-AFTRA is now setting the stage for renewal talks over its 2024 contract. The union
SAG-AFTRA
EXCLUSIVE: Intimacy coordinators could find themselves out of a job if they are indiscreet with the privacy of the filmmakers they work with, SAG-AFRTA says. Following recent revelations about what went on in the filming of the Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman starring Miller’s Girl, the Guild has tightened up its Standards and Protocols for
After launching the Strike Talk podcast with producer Todd Garner to give WGA strikers comfort in the early days of 2023’s labor unrest, Billy Ray is signing off. When you are an Oscar-nominated screenwriter, and a director and producer to boot, you’ve got to go back to work at some point. No one expected it
David Zaslav has a funny way of making friends. In a week where the Warner Bros Discovery CEO once again alienated almost everyone with the cutting of the completed Coyote vs Acme for a tax write down, Zaslav now is praising the Writers Guild of America, his foe for several months this year. “They are
The studios wasted no time Friday responding to the SAG-AFTRA National Board’s vote to approve the new tentative agreement between the guild and the AMPTP. “We are pleased that the National Board has recommended the agreement for ratification by the membership,” an AMPTP spokesperson said in a statement sent after the guild’s press conference at
The International Federation of Actors (FIA) has praised SAG-AFTRA for taking on an “incredible fight for all performers around the world. Hollywood is in celebration mode after actors union SAG and the studios struck a tentative new three-year deal, which effectively began on Thursday, and the good vibes are spreading beyond U.S. borders. The Brussels-based
AMC shares plunged today despite record quarterly earnings as the giant theater chain filed with SEC to sell up to $350 million worth of stock — offsetting any bump that could been expected from solid financials and an end to the actors’ strike. Shares were trading up this morning pre-market but reversed course when the
Warner Bros. Discovery’s third quarter was mixed with ‘Barbie’ coin and free cash flow beloved by Wall Street offset by sluggish advertising and the impact of the actors’ strike on the one of the industry’s biggest content creators. Streaming, which turned profitable in the first quarter ahead of most rivals, but lost $3 million in
2nd UPDATE, EXCLUSIVE, 10:29 PM: SAG-AFTRA and the studios have finally called it a night on the latest talks in search of a new three-year contract. In the past 30 minutes or so, the actors union and the AMPTP ended a long bargaining session that started this afternoon. The thinking is they will resume negotiations
As SAG-AFTRA and the studios continue to go back-and-forth with proposals to reach a new contract and end the nearly six months long strikes, Zachary Quinto spoke about the individual consequences of the labor action. Taking to social media for the third time in less than 24 hours, the Star Trek star today responded to
EXCLUSIVE: Today’s meeting between SAG-AFTRA and an expanded group of studio CEOs has just ended as the guild scrutinizes the AMPTP‘s long awaited response to their last comprehensive counter. On this 114th day of the actors strike, the top brass from Netflix, Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Amazon, Sony, Warner Bros Discovery and more spoke with SAG-AFTRA
UPDATE, 7:44 PM: Hard to tell if it is going to be a trick or a treat from SAG-AFTRA and the studios this Halloween, but the two sides are set to meet again person on Tuesday. “The committee worked independently today,” the Fran Drescher-run guilds told members Monday evening. “We will be meeting with the
The actors were joined by some hip-hop legends on the picket lines this morning. Kurtis Blow, co-founder of the Hip Hop Alliance, joined SAG-AFTRA outside Paramount to call an end to the strike that has lasted for over 100 days. He also highlighted how his membership of the guild was instrumental is helping to save
Imax CEO Rich Gelfond predicts the long SAG-AFTRA strike will settle relatively soon. If, instead, it drags on, theater chains will face a rocky second half of 2024 but he sees the large-format exhibitor standing apart. “An exhibitor who programs a multiplex needs lots of movies,” he told Wall Streeters after Imax reported a record
Film and TV crew members and support staff have been hit hard by the double Hollywood strikes. The latest relief effort, announced last month, comes from Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman, Paul McCrane and Paul Scheer, who are spearheading a live fundraising event in partnership with The Union Solidarity Coalition. Titled Give Back-ular Spectacular!, the two-hour
EXCLUSIVE: The Writers Guild of America’s silence on the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel looks to be the only statement they’ll be making, at least according to West Coast president Meredith Stiehm. “In the past week, some members have requested that the Guild take a public stand on events in the Middle East,” WGA West
There will be peace in Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s house after all this Halloween. None of the Green Lantern co-stars’ children will be labeled scabs by their father while they trick or treat, thanks to costume guidance clarification by SAG-AFTRA this evening. “SAG-AFTRA issued Halloween guidance in response to questions from content creators and
Former SAG-AFTRA president Melissa Gilbert has blasted a SAG-AFTRA message that urged its members not to dress up as characters from struck companies this Halloween. SAG-AFTRA published a post on its website encouraging members to “celebrate Halloween this year while also staying in solidarity.” The guild recommended striking actors “choose costumes inspired by generalized characters
Thanks, George. But your proposal to take the cap off union dues in order to end SAG-AFTRA‘s strike isn’t legally compatible with the union’s contract. So said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in a video posted to Instagram in response to George Clooney and other A-List actors‘offer to pay more into the union coffers. The Clooney
“The notion that the strikes saved the company is wildly overstated,” Bob Bakish said of Paramount today. The Paramount Global boss acknowledged that “the strike is accretive to cash in 2023 and that is true for the [whole] industry” but rubbished the notion of the labor action saving the company, calling it an “overstatement.” “We
In an interview of the Today show this morning, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher called the AMPTP’s walk out on strike negotiations this week “wrong,” “unfair,” and “disrespectful.” “It really came as a shock to me because what does that exactly mean and why would you walk away from the table?” Drescher said. “It’s not like
Kevin Feige made an appearance at the Loki Season 2 launch event in Hollywood where fans got to see the first two episodes. The Marvel head addressed the audience in attendance and mentioned the actors’ absence as the SAG-AFTRA strike continued. “Obviously our cast is not here tonight,” Feige said. “But let me tell you
The Stranger Things writers are back at work and visualizing Season 5 after the WGA reached a fair deal with the studios. Following the production delay of the final season of the Netflix series due to the strike, writers joked about what the show will look like if SAG-AFTRA is not able to reach a
Drew Carey today saluted the writers who thanked him for the meals he provided strikers at Bob’s Big Boy and Swingers during the WGA work stoppage. It was his first public comments on his charitable efforts. “I deeply appreciate all the love and thanks. It (was worth) every dime. But if you really want to
Big media shares, which rose in pre-market trading Monday, opened lower at the bell and are still trending down midday after the Writers Guild reached a tentative deal with studios to end their prolonged strike. Renewed market jitters over inflation, interest rates and a potential government shutdown appeared to have offset relief that Hollywood is
SAG-AFTRA, which has been walking with the writers since day one of the WGA strike, was quick to congratulate the guild Sunday after reaching a tentative agreement on a deal. The union said tonight that it remains on strike and in a statement urged the AMPTP to get back to the table with the actors
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, saying that “right now is the time to show our solidarity,” is urging her members to authorize a strike against the video game industry. The guild, which has been on strike against the film and TV industries since July 14, could go on strike against the gaming companies any time after
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairma-CEO Tony Vinciguerra figures Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour could gross $200 million, calling it a “massive, unexpected rescue” for movie theaters as Hollywood strikes have led to shifting release dates and slowed the production pipeline, casting a damper on this year’s vigorous box office recovery. “The exhibitors are our friends there’s
UPDATED with latest additions: SAG-AFTRA, which launched a strike against Hollywood studios on July 14, launched its interim agreements program that allows independent productions with no direct ties to members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to continue filming. The guild has been adding to the list of projects granting waivers since
UPDATED with L.A. Local results: Fran Drescher has been reelected president of SAG-AFTRA in a landslide. Drescher, winning a second two-year term in votes counted Friday, handily defeated independent candidate Maya Gilbert-Dunbar. Drescher received 23,080 votes to Gilbert-Dunbar’s 5,276, with 22.84% of the guild’s 124,477 eligible members casting ballots. Drescher’s unity slate running mate, Joely