Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | Film | October 27, 2023
It’s been 105 days since the SAG-AFTRA strike began, and while writers are back to work, the actors are still on the picket line. Negotiations broke off two weeks ago but resumed this week on Tuesday, and there appears to be some progress while both sides continue to mark their positions publicly.
The Wrap’s Sharon Waxman, for instance, has laundered for the studios what the actors believe to be an empty threat: If a deal is not agreed upon in the next week, the studios will pack it up and start again in 2024, effectively ruling out a 2024 television season and endangering summer 2024 blockbusters.
The actors have countered, however, with an open letter signed by 3600 members saying that they’d rather continue to strike than cave to a lousy deal. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Christian Slater, Sandra Oh, Jon Hamm, Maya Hawke, Marisa Tomei, John Leguizamo, and Bryan Cranston are among the signatories. The letter may also be seen as pushback to the attempt by George Clooney, Emma Stone, Tyler Perry, et al. to resolve the strike with higher SAG membership dues.
Meanwhile, there is reportedly some progress in negotiations. SAG wanted an 11 percent hike in residuals. The studios initially offered 5 percent — which is what the DGA and WGA settled for — but have raised their offer to 7 percent. SAG, which asked for 11 percent, has countered at 9 percent. There are still several other open issues, however, including AI protections.
The two sides will meet again today.
