Yesterday, Hollywood stopped as the Screen Actors Guild, best known as SAG-AFTRA went on strike following the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who have been striking since May. Both unions decided to take this harsh step after failing to agree with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), meaning Hollywood’s most powerful studios and streaming companies, for better working conditions for both writers and actors.
While the WGA’s strike affected immediately some types of productions like Late Night Shows, since many film and series projects were already working with a finished script, they were able to carry on with their production. However, now that the Actors’ have joined the fight, it literally paralyzes the industry in the US. How? Well SAG has very strict rules all actors belonging to the guild have to follow during a strike.
SAG’s Strict Rules for Actors During the Strike
As soon as the strike started, all actors belonging to the Union had to stop all work related to contracts covered by the guild. That’s why, yesterday, the Oppenheimer cast left the London Premiere right after the red carpet.
All film and television productions shut down. Deadpool 3 was one of the mainstream productions that stopped filming immediately yesterday.
Actors can’t promote projects. This includes attending premieres, interviews, award shows, film festivals, conventions, or even promoting their work (signed under their SAG contract) on their personal social media profiles while the strike is happening. That’s why Barbie has also stopped its promotional tour.
This is the list of work all actors affiliated with SAG-AFTRA must cease during the strike:
Actors belonging to the Union can’t perform on-camera work such as:
- Acting
- Singing
- Dancing
- Performing stunts
- Puppeteering
- Piloting on-camera aircraft
They can’t do off-camera work like:
- Narrating
- Voice acting
- Singing
- Wardrobe and makeup tests
- Rehearsals
- Auditions
- Photo shoots
Regarding the promotion of their work, they can’t do:
- Tours
- Personal appearances
- Interviews
- Conventions
- Fan expos
- Festivals
- For your consideration events
- Panels
- Premieres and screenings
- Award shows
- Junkets
- Podcast appearances
- Social media publicity
- Studio showcases
Actors can’t negotiate or consent to:
- Agreements for performing in the future
- Merchandising agreements
- The use of digital replicas, including the reuse of prior work
