SAG-AFTRA Will No Longer Approve Indie Projects Written Under WGA Contract

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer With one strike already underway, SAG-AFTRA announced Friday that it will seek authorization for a second strike against the major video game companies. The union said that talks on a new video game contract have reached a “stalemate,” and that the strike authorization vote is needed as leverage to win wage increases and protection from artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA declared a strike on July 13 against the major TV and film companies, shutting down productions around the globe.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA has granted approval for three AMC Networks shows to restart production, under its controversial provision allowing “independent” projects to continue despite the strike. The shows include “Interview With the Vampire,” which was shooting in Prague when the strike started, and two “Walking Dead” spinoffs: “The Ones Who Live” and “Daryl Dixon.” The latter project was on hiatus and can resume shooting in France. SAG-AFTRA has granted “interim agreements” to more than 300 projects since the strike began in mid-July.

Megalopolis, the long-awaited passion project from Francis Ford Coppola, is the latest film to land an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA. The film finished production earlier this year so it is unknown what the agreement would be used for but with festival season ramping up it could potentially be getting one in order to be sold on one of the markets or potentially screen an upcoming festival and in need of one for publicity purposes.

Fearing they won’t be able to set casts for film packages to sell at key festival markets, indie film producers are appealing to SAG-AFTRA to fast-track interim casting agreements that are holding things up.  

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The 2023 writers strike has focused attention on recent developments like artificial intelligence and the transition to streaming. But for film writers, the key issue in the strike has been a constant battle for more than a generation: How do you get paid for a script once it’s finished? Screenwriters have long been asked to do free revisions before turning in a “first draft” to the studio, which triggers payment. Typically they agree, even though the Writers Guild of America contract sets out minimum rates for revisions and polishes.

Ahead of its world premiere in competition at the 80th Venice Film Festival, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, which follows the Presleys from the perspective of the King’s young bride, has secured a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement.

Bradley Cooper has said that being sober made it “easier” to play the role of a recovering addict in A Star Is Born.The 2018 film stars Cooper as boozing country singer Jackson Maine who falls in love with Ally, a talented young waitress-cum-singer (Lady Gaga).In a new interview with Bear Grylls on the latter’s TV programme Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge, Cooper discussed his two-decade sobriety and how it helped him “really get in” to the role as Maine.Asked whether he had any “wild years” early in his acting days, Cooper said: “In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah, but nothing to do with fame though.“But I was lucky. I got sober at 29 years old and I’ve been sober for 19 years.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large For those of us who write about the industry, it’s been a bit of a challenge finding ways to still cover the Emmy Awards, especially as Phase 2 voting got underway on Aug. 17. My colleague Emily Longeretta, who oversees our special Emmy extra editions, has gotten creative in turning some of our podcast interviews into stories, for example, and relying on other approaches to covering nominated shows and talent.

SAG-AFTRA’s Los Angeles Local and the Writers Guild of America will hold a “National Day of Solidarity” rally on Tuesday outside Disney Studios.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A large majority of Americans support the writers and actors strikes, and a plurality hold an unfavorable view of the Hollywood studios, according to a new poll by Data for Progress. The poll found 67% support among likely voters for the strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, while just 18% oppose them. The poll also found that 48% have an unfavorable view of the major studios, and just 31% support the studios.

Charli XCX is pushing the pedal to the metal!

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, confirmed Tuesday that fall festival buyers will need to agree to the terms proposed for the guild’s new contract before acquiring projects being promoted under an interim agreement.

SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland is hopeful that Friday’s meeting between the Writers Guild and the AMPTP helps push the needle forward as the actors await their turn to get back to the bargaining table.

SAG-AFTRA has revealed more thinking behind its interim agreements, with leadership saying the initiative is “designed to undermine the production slates and timing of the AMPTP companies and ensure that they come back to the table”.

Jessica Chastain is opening up about a truly awful experience she had on Broadway.

Jessica Chastain recently revealed a "gross" moment during her run on Broadway’s "A Doll’s House" when she had to kiss her costar after she got sick in her mouth. "I can say it now, 'cause we're closed," the "It" actress told Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes on their "Smartless" podcast released Tuesday. "This is really gross, what I'm going to tell you guys," she said after they asked her about her worst moment during the production, which ran from March until June.

Kaley Cuoco is celebrating daughter Matilda's four-month birthday with a cute picture, posting the update to her Instagram Story on Wednesday. Cuoco's baby girl gazes up with wide eyes in the snap, laying with a paper milestone marker card reading «4 months» on her belly. Cuoco added a digital sticker to the shot that reads, «I mean...» Also on her IG Story, the postpartum mom shared a reel from the brand VersaClimber that shows off her circuit training workout routine with celeb trainer Ryan Sorensen as she works to gain back her strength after childbirth.

EXCLUSIVE: Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, who is an executive producer on Noora Niasari’s debut film Shayda, will not be attending the pic’s Aug. 12 closing night at the Locarno Film Festival out of support for the SAG-AFTRA Strike. Niasari and the movie’s star Zar Amir Ebrahimi will still attend the movie’s play at Locarno.

Luc Besson’s DogMan has become one of the first films to receive a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement that will allow talent to do press during the upcoming festival season. Actors will be allowed to promote the pic at its upcoming premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Film workers who have been unemployed during the strike will get some help in maintaining their health insurance, the industry plan announced Monday. The Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans will extend eligibility to certain participants who otherwise would not have enough hours to qualify for benefits. The MPIPHP also announced that members will be able to take a one-time “hardship withdrawal” from their defined-contributed retirement plans.