Supermarkets in the US have been selling pumpkins for months. The country has been preparing for Halloween for months, practically a national holiday on which the country does not save: according to the National Retail Federation alone, spending last year amounted to 12.2 billion dollars (the same amount in euros). behind Christmas. On October 31st – and surrounding areas; There’s a celebration from day one – seven out of ten Americans dress up; According to Google, the winning costumes this year will be Barbie, Spiderman and Wednesday Addams. But if the actors’ union had its way, at least for its members, they would not be accepted in a movement that has questioned the strategy of an organization in which 160,000 people have been on strike for more than 100 days. . The criticism caused her to back down, but only slightly. And all this comes as they meet with studio executives on Tuesday to try to reach an agreement.
Late last week, SAG-AFTRA told its members that they would prefer not to wear costumes based on fictional characters. It was allowed to choose “costumes inspired by general characters and figures (ghosts, zombies, spiders…)” or, for example, by “an animated television series”, but not specific ones created by the main studios characters acted. against those with whom they have been fighting since last July: Disney, Warner, Netflix, Universal, HBO… Neither superheroes, nor fictional princesses, nor actors of famous series and others. “Let us use our collective power to send a loud and clear message to our striking employees that they will not promote their content without a fair contract,” they wrote in a statement published on a specific portal where they Publish information about the strike. The notice is no longer available at the SAG-AFTRA Halloween Guide URL.
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From that moment on, the criticism intensified. Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds replied via Twitter (now “He’s not in the union, but he needs to learn.” Actress Mandy Moore (This Is Us), who has been very active since the strike began, supporting the union and its negotiations, took a tougher stance. “Is is this a joke, SAG-AFTRA? Is this important? We ask that you negotiate on our behalf and in good faith. Many colleagues across the industry have been making sacrifices for months. Go back to the table [de negociación] and receive a fair offer so that everyone can get back to work. Please and thank you,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories to his 5.5 million followers.
I look forward to screaming “scab” at my 8 year old all night long. She’s not in the union, but she has to learn
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) October 19, 2023
The final and strongest voice against this mandate was actress Melissa Gilbert (“Little House on the Prairie”), who served as president of SAG-AFTRA for two terms between 2001 and 2005 and withdrew from running for a third term. He criticized the decision on his Instagram profile. “Is THIS what you brought with you? Literally no one cares what someone wears on Halloween. I mean, do you think childish things like that will end the strike? “We look like a joke,” he complained. “Please tell me you will repeal this rule… and start negotiating! “For God’s sake, people are suffering a lot and that’s all you have to say…people,” he complained, citing reports from Fran Drescher, the union’s current leader, and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the negotiating chairman the actors.
Melissa Gilbert and Mandy Moore during the actors union protests. Gilbert in New York, New York on August 3, 2023. Moore outside the Disney Studios in Burbank, California on July 14. Getty Images
SAG-AFTRA hasn’t backed down for now. She only gave in slightly, causing even more excitement: she assured that the rule “will have no impact on anyone’s children,” as they explained in a statement to the film trade publication Variety. “Our guide answers questions from content creators and members about how to support the strike this holiday season. “It is designed to help them avoid encouraging strike work and is the latest in a series of guides we have released,” they said. Those guidelines include that actors are not allowed to upload photos of costumes that are “inspired by the content for which they are featured” to avoid advertising the studios.
All this does is cloud the negotiations between the union and its 160,000 members with AmpTM, the employers’ association that brings together the main studios. Since the strike began in mid-July, it took more than 80 days until the two parties met for negotiations on Monday, October 2nd. But just ten days later, after deep distancing, the talks ended abruptly and in bad behavior. And right now, this Tuesday the 24th, they will be back at the table, this time with “multiple executives,” according to the Los Angeles Times, in attendance.
Talks are also resuming after a very hectic week in which actor George Clooney tried to offer a solution to the deadlocked issue. As announced after the end of negotiations, the union presented a proposal for a salary increase that would cost Amptp a total of 800 million dollars (760, in euros) annually, paid by all majors at a price of 57 cents and 54 euro cents, respectively per subscriber. But they refused. Clooney – who previously donated at least $1 million to help his colleagues in August – spearheaded a proposal that has received support from Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck and Emma Stone, among others became. to increase their fees and contribute some of that money.
SAG-AFTRA membership fees are proportional. Actors pay a fixed amount of $231.96 and 1.575% of their income each year, up to a maximum annual income of $1 million. The protagonist of Ocean’s Eleven proposed removing this limit of one million and paying 1.575% of the total income; He estimated this would mean $150 million in additional revenue for the union over three years. However, although SAG-AFTRA welcomed this and viewed it as a “gesture of goodwill and support”, Drescher and Crabtree-Ireland rejected it and ensured that it was not legal. “We are a union regulated by federal law,” the president said, “and the only contributions that can be made to our pension and health funds must come from the employer.” The employer’s shift is tomorrow, Tuesday. If all goes well, the actors may have time to dust off their superhero costumes and pink skirts on the 31st.
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