Well as some may have heard rumors of strike, as of last night the actors contracts are up for both SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). SAG actors received a last minute offer that is currently being reviewed. Until then no lockout or authorization to strike vote so all parties might keep working. Initial comments on the offer were that they hadn’t addressed all the actors concerns.
AFTRA, reached a tentative deal in May and is waiting for a vote to ratify the agreement which should come, or not, next week. Since the unions overlap with more than half of AFTRA’s 70,000 members also in SAG, some members of SAG have been leaning on AFTRA not to ratify as they think the deal isn’t quite good enough, and of course their united power would be that much greater.
At this point we’re talking about nuances in contracts similar to the precedent set by the writers’ strike. Issues like new media as well as minimum payments and product placements are some of the concerns. What is fair is a little unclear. What is clear is that a deal is preferable to a strike.
Should we face a strike there is some hope that all other aspects of the shows could keep moving. Now that we have writers on board, and could be ready to start shooting again the moments the actors walk back on set, as opposed to taking weeks to get rolling again. But how long would the actors be out?
Things are already winding down production to prepare for the worst. Some contingency plans are being made for reality and a few foreign based shows but the real question is would the networks air just a few episodes produced if that’s all they’ve got. Comedy and standalone drama perhaps. But shows like Heroes and other new ones waiting….
I guess the real, real question is if we face another strike would people permanently find something to watch besides television?
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AFTRA has ratified their deal, giving a little less momentum to the SAG strike talk… fingers crossed…