As the SAG-AFTRA strike enters its second month with no end in sight, joining the WGA strike that began in May, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have been taking to picket lines to support the unions.
14.07.2023 - 19:15 / deadline.com
While the 70-day-old WGA strike has been an “annoyance” for entertainment companies, in the view of one Wall Street analyst, the SAG-AFTRA walkout will be “much more disruptive.”
Tim Nollen, a veteran media analyst with Macquarie Equity Research, issued a note to clients today on the impact of the first strike by writers and actors since 1960. Media and tech stocks have pulled back a bit today, with Disney and Netflix shares off 2% and Comcast down 1%, but overall share prices and broader markets are not yet showing any severe reaction to the picketing. That could change in the trading days to come, Nollen predicts.
“Now, TV and movie filming grinds to a halt,” the analyst wrote. “Pay including royalties, working conditions including benefits, and terms around the use of generative AI are the sticking points, driven by wholesale changes that streaming has wrought in content production and consumption — writers and actors are often paid a lump sum only for the show, not for residuals, like windowing of linear TV or box office films. The timing will affect many of this coming season’s scheduled scripted dramas on TV, which may ironically drive even more viewers to streaming services, where lead times can be 1-2 years for episodic series and hence won’t be affected until next year.
“And on top of a weak TV ad market, media network groups face a bad combination of negative trends in both traditional subs and advertising, higher labor cost demands in linear and streaming production, and likely poor PR. Netflix reports [second-quarter] results next Wednesday and will be the first to face the issue publicly.”
After Netflix reports, dozens of media and tech companies will follow with their own earnings reports through the end
As the SAG-AFTRA strike enters its second month with no end in sight, joining the WGA strike that began in May, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have been taking to picket lines to support the unions.
Several of Hollywood’s highest paid stars have donated money to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program for actors who may be struggling to make ends-meat right now due to the actors’ strike.
Sony is making some big changes to their release schedule in the face of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and writers strikes.
SAG-AFTRA’s strike continues on…but there are several projects that have received waivers or are exempt from the strike rules.
officially went on strike after they were unable to reach an agreement with major Hollywood studios and streamers by the July 12 deadline. Because of this, nearly all productions in Hollywood have been forced to shut down, which have already had an immediate impact in the industry with canceled premieres, axed publicity tours, delayed projects and abandoned sets.Actors like Jason Sudeikis, Susan Sarandon, Olivia Wilde, Allison Janney, Josh Gad, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Mandy Moore, Ben Schwartz and Sharon Lawrence were among those joining the writers — who have been on strike since May 2 — on the picket line beginning July 14.
Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International “Succession” star Brian Cox and “Catastrophe’s” Rob Delaney are among the confirmed speakers at a London rally in support of the SAG-AFTRA strike. U.K. actors union Equity revealed plans earlier this week for two major demonstrations on Friday in solidarity with the actors strike. Twin rallies will take place at noon local time in London’s Leicester Square and in Manchester’s Media City. Speakers so far scheduled for the London rally include Cox and Delaney as well as “The Pact” and “Alex Rider” star Rakie Ayola, Equity general secretaries Paul W. Fleming and Lynda Rooke, and Bectu boss Philippa Childs. Member of Parliament John McDonnell is also set to speak.
Wall Street reviews of Netflix’ latest earnings ranged from upbeat to more cautiously optimistic, with the latter taking hold today after a major jump in net new subscribers failed to ignite sales last quarter.
Disney CEO Bob Iger already made his perspective clear about the ongoing guild strikes last week before the SAG-AFTRA one commenced. Now it’s Netflix CEO’s Ted Sarandos‘ turn.
Anne Hathaway, Jenna Ortega, Matthew McConaughey and others, are still shooting in the U.S. and overseas.
Hollywood came to a standstill amid the joint WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike — but not every TV show has stopped filming.
The biggest names in Hollywood are showing their support for the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike by joining their fellow union members on the picket lines.
Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International U.K. actors union Equity has planned rallies in London and Manchester to support the SAG-AFTRA strike. The org revealed on Tuesday that it will hold a demonstration in London’s Leicester Square and Manchester’s Media City at 12 p.m. on Friday (July 21). Speakers at the London rally will include Equity general secretary Paul W. Fleming, Equity president Lynda Rooke and MP John McDonnell. The events will also feature “speakers from the entertainment industry and trade union movement.” “In our sister union’s fight we stand in unwavering solidarity, and we will not allow the U.K. to become a back door to undermine the strike,” said Equity in a statement.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The SAG-AFTRA strike has sparked a great deal of discussion and confusion about what is forbidden and what is still OK. SAG-AFTRA has put out a detailed FAQ for members, non-members, indie producers, and other groups. But people still have questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. I’m a film critic. Can I review movies? Absolutely. Critics are not on strike and are not obligated to stop reviewing movies or TV shows. I’m an entertainment journalist. Can I cover movies and TV?
SAG-AFTRA strike marches on, networks are firming up their plans amid a dramatic downtick in active Hollywood productions with actors on the picket line. While the actors' strike has halted movies and scripted TV shows for the foreseeable future, it doesn't mean everything will be affected. Reality television, for the most part, will largely be unaffected, which will take center stage as the actors (and writers) continue to fight for better compensation, residuals and protective measures against the use of artificial intelligence.In response to the actors' strike, CBS on Monday shored up its fall schedule, relying heavily on supersized episodes of and to take it through the start of fall.
The Chosen is the first known series to be allowed to continue production amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Leonardo DiCaprio is standing with his fellow actors. The “Revenant” star took to his Instagram Stories to show his support not long after it was announced that SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) formally approved a strike upon negotiations falling apart between the actors’ union and major Hollywood studios and streamers, who are represented by the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers).
Leonardo DiCaprio is standing with his fellow actors. The star took to his Instagram Stories to show his support not long after it was announced that SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) formally approved a strike upon negotiations falling apart between the actors' union and major Hollywood studios and streamers, who are represented by the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers).The actors will now join the writers on the picket line, marking the first time since 1960 that two major guilds will be striking at the same time.
Kimiko Glenn is speaking out amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA and the major studios remain at odds on a dizzying array of issues, as film and TV actors hit the picket lines Friday for the first time since 1980. According to sources on both sides, the biggest sticking point is the union’s demand for 2% of the revenue generated by streaming shows. The two sides also remain far apart on basic increases in minimum rates, with the studios offering 5%, 4% and 3.5% across the three years of the contract, while the union is demanding 11%, 4% and 4%. But that only scratches the surface. The parties are at odds on dozens of issues, only a handful of which have been publicly reported.
With the SAG-AFTRA strike starting today and the WGA writers strike heading into its 74th day, most of Hollywood comes to a standstill. When will these guild strikes end? When negotiations between both of them and the AMPTP resume.