Before the cast of SAG-AFTRA went on strike last week, one of the industry’s biggest stars made a surprise appearance at a round of negotiations: Tom Cruise.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 61-year-old actor appeared during a Zoom negotiation session between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in June.
He reportedly stepped up to try to get the AMPTP – which represents the film and TV networks, studios and streaming services – to consider their positions on regulating artificial intelligence (AI) in their work.
Cruise – who halted filming on his latest film Mission: Impossible after the strike was announced – also wanted to address his guild’s position on stunt performers.
While the Guild has at times encouraged artists to participate in negotiations on subjects in which they have expertise, Cruise is believed to be the biggest top star to participate in negotiations to date.
Negotiator: Before the cast of SAG-AFTRA went on strike last week, one of the industry’s biggest stars made a surprise appearance at a negotiation session: Tom Cruise
Union: The 61-year-old actor is said to have appeared during a Zoom negotiation session between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in June, according to The Hollywood Reporter
Cruise also called on the AMPTP to allow actors to continue promoting their films after the strike as theaters are “in a fragile state” following the COVID-19 pandemic.
He reportedly reminded the union that promoting their films is “important” for actors too.
A source who attended the meeting said it felt “uncomfortable” when it happened.
The SAG-AFTRA strike rules specifically prohibit “conventions, interviews, tours, or advertising of striking plants or companies on social media.”
SAG-AFTRA’s three-year deal with the AMPTP expired on July 1, but an extension was agreed, with the new deadline being July 12 – the same day Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One hits theaters came.
Although there were still twelve days to find common ground, no agreement could be reached by 11:59 p.m. PST on July 12.
This led to the SAG-AFTRA actors and other artists going on strike, joining the Writers Guild of America, which had been on strike since May 2nd.
The AMPTP has still not returned to the negotiating table once since the WGA strike began, and many expect this standoff to last several months and could well impact the fall TV season, awards season and more.
Tom asks: Cruise has also asked AMPTP to allow actors to continue promoting their films after the strike as theaters are “in a fragile state” following the COVID-19 pandemic
Same Day: SAG-AFTRA’s three-year contract with the AMPTP expired on July 1, but an extension was agreed, with the new deadline set for July 12 — the same day as Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One hit theaters
Cruise was filming Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two, which is currently scheduled for release on June 28, 2024.
That date is likely to change, however, as production halted following SAG-AFTRA’s strike last week.
Cruise was filming at Longcross Studios in Surrey before filming halted due to the strike and while most of the filming had already been completed, the film’s biggest international set piece had yet to be shot, according to director Christopher McQuarrie.
“We shot all but one of our international locations.” “We shot our big action, except for the biggest set piece, the central set piece of the film, which is massive and unlike anything we’ve done before, and I think Me, too, unlike anything you’ve seen before,” he said.
The news about Cruise comes just hours after Barry Diller, former CEO of Paramount and co-founder of the Fox network, suggested that without strict changes, the entire film and television industry could very well collapse in what he called the “perfect storm.” .
Diller, 81, appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, where he proposed a 25% pay cut to top actors like Cruise.
“At the top end, everyone is probably overpaid.” The only idea I had was to say, as good faith, that both the executives and the highest-paid actors should take a 25 percent pay cut to try and make up the difference between those who are well paid and those who are not. ‘ suggested Diller.
Although he didn’t mention Cruise by name, he is one of the highest paid actors having earned over $1 billion in his career and currently has an estimated net worth of $600 million.
Filming: Cruise was filming Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two, which is currently scheduled for release on June 28, 2024