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ISAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee voted unanimously to recommend to the National Board a strike of the Producers-SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical/Streaming Contracts which expired July 12, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
As of July 23rd, 2023 negotiations for SAG-AFTRA have still not concluded and Hollywood has come to a halt. For the first time in more than 60 years, the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild have banded together to link arms and protest over pay, conditions, and the overall concerns about Artificial Intelligence. This historic strike has come after failed negotiations with AMPTP.
For a closer look at the negotiations and understanding of what SAG-AFTRA is trying to fight for, this is a list of things that were outright REJECTED from negotiations thus far:
Casts share in the revenue generated when their performances are exhibited on streaming platforms
Increase in transparency and accuracy in reporting of singers’ work (Withdrew after rejection)
Remove discounted group rate for 9+ dancers (Offered to withdraw in exchange for other gains for dancers)
Redefine “Principal Dancer” to ensure professional dancers are not hired for lower background rates (Offered to withdraw in exchange for other gains for dancers)
Background actors are the only category under the current agreements who work under different terms on the East Coast (USA) than they do on the West Coast (USA), seeking to be treated equally
Individuals required to do “double duty” working as both stand-ins and background on the same day should be compensated at least 150% of the stand-in rate for the day
Background actors should be paid for each episode they are employed in during a single day (Withdrew after rejection)
Any tone, style, genre, period, creative vision, character description, accent, or other available information about the project and role should be provided to the performer at the time an audition is requested
Discussion with relevant casting personnel regarding geographic discrimination in casting, whereby actors outside of New York and Los Angeles are offered lesser terms for the same role
Increase liquidated damages due to the unacceptable trend of late payments
Stop to the producer practice of using benefit fund contribution caps as an excuse to keep residuals money that belongs to members
Establish minimum terms for performers who narrate productions for blind and low-vision viewers (Withdrew after rejection and will pursue in other avenues)
Apply union scale minimums, rest periods and protections for minors to new media productions that are not high budget, regardless of length
Require residuals for ongoing exhibition on advertiser-supported as well as subscription based streaming services regardless of of budget or length of picture
Calculate residuals for pictures made initially for new media and then exhibited on network or foreign television on the same basis as pictures made initially for television
Increase residual that applies when a traditional media picture is is exhibited on a streaming platform that is free to the consumer
Increase penalties for not providing meal breaks (which have not been updated since 1961)
Increase penalties for failing to allow performers sufficient rest between work days
These and many other points in the negotiations are essential for all involved in the entertainment industry. It is currently unknown how long the strike will continue for, but several productions have come to a grinding stop until these issues amongst others have been resolved.
#unitedwebargaindividedwebeg
Janine has always been a part of music and performing. The first show that inspired her to go into theatre was the Velveteen Rabbit which she saw as a child, and Drew works to keep that magic alive in her work. When Drew was accepted into an internship program for audio engineering at a recording studio, she jumped at the opportunity. That was at the start of 2020, and so much has happened since then, both in her career and in the world. Since then, Drew has taken several opportunities to work at recording studios, concerts, festivals, and even large theatres while spending some time on tour. Drew's favorite by far though, has been the chance to work on Broadways and West End shows, as this was a dream come true. Drew is honoured to get to share these experiences from being inside the entertainment industry.
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