The actors were “deceived” and the strike paralyzed Hollywood… “just an escalating step.”
The actors did it and started a strike that is expected to shake the Hollywood film industry. The production of series and films entered a stage of total stagnation with the start of a strike by American actors that would lead, along with that which the scriptwriters have been continuing for more than two months, to the worst paralysis in the sector in more than 60 years.
The Actors Union announced the start of a strike that would constitute a severe blow to the sector, at midnight Thursday, Los Angeles time. Seven o’clock this morning, Friday GMT, after the failure of negotiations with studios and streaming platforms.
A snapshot of those in solidarity with the Hollywood actors’ strike, which is added to the writers’ strike (AFP)
And the French Press Agency quoted the head of the union, on behalf of 160,000 actors and workers in television and cinema, Fran Drescher, as saying: “We had no choice. We are the victims. We are victims of a very greedy entity,” knowing that the strikers’ demand is unified in terms of demanding an improvement in their salaries, which have become very low in the era of streaming broadcasting.
They are also seeking to obtain guarantees that prevent the use of artificial intelligence programs, whether to write scripts for works, or to reproduce their voices and images.
For her part, the former star of the series “The Nanny” described this decision as a “historic moment,” adding: “If we do not stand up now, we are all at risk of being replaced by machines and large companies that (Wall Street) care more about you and your family.”
The Alliance of Film and Television Producers, representing studios and streaming platforms in the negotiations, expressed its “great disappointment” at its failure. Disney president Bob Iger, speaking on CNBC, criticized what he called “unrealistic” demands.
And while the actors can stop the process of promoting films expected to be released this summer, including “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan, “Variety” magazine indicated that the actors involved in the film left its premiere in London, Thursday, in a solidarity movement.
It is not known how long the strike will last; It is the first since 1980. As for the last strike of screenwriters, it dates back to 2007-2008 and lasted 100 days.
Members of the Writers Guild of America walk in the sit-in line in front of the offices of “Netflix” (Reuters)
“we have been deceived”
Also, Drescher revealed to Agence France-Presse, that “the studios negotiated with the syndicate in an unfair manner to gain time and promote their upcoming films in the summer, in anticipation of the expected strike decision.”
And she continued, “We were deceived, and I feel disappointed,” explaining that representatives of studios and broadcasting platforms “remained behind the scenes and did not hesitate to cancel meetings with us.”
Under the strike, the union’s 160,000 members, who are actors and workers in the film and television fields, refrain from participating in any form of promoting a work, whether in premieres, festivals, or through communication sites.
Before the union made its decision to strike, it had agreed to extend negotiations with Hollywood studios for 10 days, within a deadline that expired on Wednesday evening, July 12, and was used to promote films, including “Barbie” and “Mission Impossible”, which benefited from the presence of stars. Among them are Tom Cruise, Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling.
“I may have been naive, but this is the first time I’ve been involved in negotiations,” Drescher said. Greed is the basis of all the misfortunes in the world, and this is the most prominent example of that.” She added, “I thought that we could reach a convergence of views, and that they would see the extent to which this new business model was imposed on the entire field,” referring to streaming platforms.
Actors of “Oppenheimer”, including Matt Damon and Rami Malek, after their early exit from the premiere of the film in London (AFP)
And she pointed out that “their unwillingness to sit with us and tell us (we have to stand by you in a respectful way so that you can continue in light of the changes that are taking place), is insane.”
While the second main point in the negotiations is the issue of artificial intelligence, which is increasingly being used in Hollywood, as Disney used it, for example, to compose the opening credits for the series “Secret Envision”; “It will automatically replace us with artificial intelligence,” Drescher commented. We will continue to be marginalized, and I call on everyone to wake up.”
And the Alliance of Film and Television Producers, which represents studios and broadcasting platforms, announced (Thursday) that it had proposed “historic increases in salaries (…)” and submitted “a revolutionary proposal regarding artificial intelligence that protects the digital image of actors.”
In a statement, the union regretted its choice to resort to “a step that will cause thousands of people financial difficulties.” Despite Drescher’s frustration with the studios, she stressed that “the union’s doors will remain open to continue negotiations.”
And she continued, “The strike does not represent the end, as it is just an escalatory step,” adding, “We want to continue negotiating with them. But the ball is now in their court.
