Breaking the Chains: My Journey to Stardom in Hollywood

Mehdi Barakchian, a New York-born actor, comedian, and producer, has appeared in various screen productions. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. For more opinions, read on CNN.

In a thrilling turn of events, striking writers recently reached an agreement with major Hollywood studios earlier this month. This exciting news has been welcomed by the entertainment community, especially after a year of numerous strikes. The deal signifies a significant victory for workers who have been fighting against the rising income inequality.

Mehdi Barakchian

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Now, its the actors turn to reach a deal with studiosexcept that the studios have suspended talks with SAG-AFTRA, the union representing us.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) withdrew from negotiations on October 11, citing a lack of progress in reaching an agreement. Consequently, discussions between the actors and studios have reached a deadlock.

For those who are not up to date with the actors' strike, the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA are currently in talks regarding the sharing of revenue and regulations concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI), among other matters. Until a resolution is reached, actors such as myself will continue to picket. Unfortunately, this means that many outstanding shows will not be filmed, resulting in unemployment for numerous individuals who depend on this industry.

Maybe you're wondering, "But don't actors earn fortunes?" Well, while it's true that A-listers can rake in millions upon millions of dollars, the rest of us are nowhere near that level.

SAG-AFTRA supporters staged a protest in front of Netflix's offices located on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. The actors have been on strike since July 14, 2023.

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George Clooney and other celebrities have generously pledged to contribute millions of additional dollars in union dues to mitigate the ongoing actors' strike. While my name may not ring a bell, you might just find my somewhat familiar face from one of the noteworthy shows I have had the pleasure of being a part of. Over the past five years, I have been fortunate enough to be associated with successful productions such as the captivating supernatural drama "Manifest," the gripping psychological thriller "You," and the heartwarming anthology series "Modern Love," which explores the intricacies of human relationships.

I am fortunate enough to have achieved significant success in my acting career, allowing me to comfortably pay my bills and have health insurance. During the peak of my bookings, I took the opportunity to propose to my now wife and even welcomed a dog into our family - these are the usual milestones people reach when they have financial stability.

However, it has always been a challenge for actors to afford the typical trappings of a middle-class lifestyle, and it is becoming increasingly difficult. One major issue is that the business model for Hollywood film productions has undergone a complete change, while the contracts have remained unchanged. This is why actors joined the strike in July, a few months after the writers took similar action.

To put it simply, my unemployment in recent months has put a strain on my family's finances. However, the approximately 160,000 actors currently on strike are enduring temporary hardships in the hopes of achieving long-term improvements in pay, benefits, and job security. While we miss the profession we love, we cannot continue working under conditions that undervalue us and fail to protect our careers, especially as the industry increasingly embraces AI, which has the potential to threaten our livelihoods.

It is worth noting that many of Hollywood's biggest stars are also showing their support by joining us on the picket lines, and for that, I am grateful. They are fighting alongside us for fair wages in an industry where the average salary for actors in California was a meager $27.73 per hour in 2022, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, it is important to consider that most actors do not work a standard 40-hour week year-round, so these statistics may not fully portray the precariousness of our livelihoods.

Acting is an incredibly challenging career to enter and sustain stability in the long run. The majority of us who managed to make a livelihood were fortunate enough to receive a reasonable salary that stemmed from the number of viewers.

The Netflix logo is visible atop their office building in Hollywood, California on March 2, 2022. (Image credit: Chris Delmas/AFP/Getty Images)

Netflix increases prices once more. Before the arrival of streaming, actors like myself were dependent on residuals that were paid out based on our appearances in a show and its success. This implied that the higher the number of views, the greater our earnings.

The contracts we currently abide by fail to account for the significant surge in streaming viewership and the decline in traditional network and cable viewership. As a result, actors are now required to work longer hours in order to make ends meet, while still facing the possibility of earning less.

When streaming platforms first emerged, they faced the challenge of attracting and retaining audiences. During that time, most of us in the industry were primarily employed in cable and network television, as that's where the majority of viewership was concentrated. This substantial viewership, along with the residuals provided by this model, allowed many of us to sustain a livelihood. However, the landscape of the business has undergone a complete transformation.

The viewership of streaming in the US exceeded that of cable and network TV last year, leading to a significant decline in the earnings of actors reliant on residuals from their previous programs. This transformative shift has also impacted the business model of the AMPTP, representing major movie and TV producers such as Disney, Warner Brothers, and Netflix (Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, is also involved in producing movies and TV shows). Despite claims of financial constraints, CEOs in the industry continue to earn substantial salaries in the tens of millions of dollars.

According to SAG-AFTRA, 86% of its members do not meet the income requirement of about $26,500 per year and therefore do not qualify for health care coverage through the union. Additionally, living in expensive cities like Los Angeles and New York, where the work opportunities are concentrated, further adds to the financial burden. For instance, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles is approximately $3,000, totaling $36,000 annually. Consequently, for struggling Hollywood actors, the financial challenges are evident.

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On Friday, September 15, 2023, a rally was held in Detroit where members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) gathered to protest. Their cause of action was a strike being conducted against Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

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A lot of workers are out on strike right now. Heres how that looks in the jobs report

Another crucial point of contention revolves around the industry's desired application of AI. The AI proposal put forth by the AMPTP directly affects the most marginalized and financially vulnerable performers in the entertainment industry, specifically background actors.

Undoubtedly, the manner in which an actor's images will be utilized holds immense significance. Negotiators from SAG-AFTRA assert that the proposed contract would remunerate background actors for their daily work, a stark contrast to their current payment rate of less than $200 per day. Furthermore, the proposed agreement would involve scanning their bodies and granting unrestricted use of those images throughout the entirety of the project. The union has expressed concerns over the studios' desire to obtain ownership of these scans for perpetuity, without the explicit consent of the background actors and without providing any additional compensation. The AMPTP, however, has refuted these claims, stating that consent from the actor is a necessity and that the replica of the scan would exclusively be used in the movie they originally signed up for.

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However, here's a thought that should make you think: AI technology is still in its infancy. We cannot grasp or predict what possibilities may arise in the next 10, 20, or 30 years. The potential is boundless, and it is crucial to establish safeguards to protect individuals.

You may be wondering, "If you have so many concerns about how Hollywood operates, why don't you find another job?" I would counter your question and ask, "Wouldn't you advocate for a job that brings you joy?"

Acting is not just my job; it is my passion. I have dedicated countless hours to auditions and stage performances in order to perfect my craft. I have also completed numerous improv classes, both average and exceptional, and even made a life-altering decision to move across the country to pursue this career.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded many people of the importance of on-screen entertainment in their lives. The stories we witnessed on both large and small screens provided us with a means of escapism, allowing us to momentarily forget about the daunting reality just beyond our front doors.

A number of top Hollywood celebrities, such as Ben Affleck, Emma Stone, and George Clooney, held discussions with SAG-AFTRA leaders this week following the suspension of negotiations by the studios. According to news reports, they have made efforts to bring the strike to an end. I am optimistic that the influence of these influential stars will help in resuming the talks. The notion that union workers who are paid inadequately should simply find a different job, while industry executives earn millions of dollars, seems like a script from a futuristic dystopian movie created by artificial intelligence. Yet, this is the reality we face.

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Let's clarify something: this battle is about the entire ecosystem that drives your favorite content on the screen. It involves not only actors like myself, but also casting directors, costume departments, lighting crews, camera operators, producers, teamsters, make-up artists, and many other professionals who have real lives, families, and professional aspirations. None of us who are not executives become wealthy by working in this industry.

I am thrilled for my extended family in the Writers Guild of America who, through their sacrifice and determination, were able to negotiate a deal with the studio executives that their leaders are content with. Until actors can say the same, you will not see my somewhat familiar face on the screen, but instead on the picket line.