Must-Read! Unveiling the Complete List of Activities Actors Must Avoid During the Strike - SAG-AFTRA Breakdown
SAG-AFTRA Strike: A Comprehensive List of Restrictions for Actors During the Strike
The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has released a comprehensive list outlining the activities that its 160,000 members are prohibited from engaging in during the new actors' strike. This action was initiated after negotiations for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed. Beginning at midnight on July 14, actors will join the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on the picket lines, advocating for fair compensation and improved residuals. Variety has published the entire list, which includes a broad range of tasks that the labor union's members, including actors, radio personalities, broadcast journalists, stunt performers, dancers, singers, and others, are not allowed to participate in. It's important to note that the strike not only impacts onscreen work but also behind-the-scenes contributions, as actors often play a significant role in a film's promotion through activities such as social media posts, interviews, and conventions. Please find below the complete list of prohibited activities during the strike:
Principal on camera work, such as:
○ Acting
○ Singing
○ Dancing
○ Performing stunts
○ Piloting on-camera aircraft
○ Puppeteering
○ Performance capture or motion capture work
Principal off camera work, such as:
○ ADR/Looping
○ TV Trailers (promos) and Theatrical Trailers
○ Voice Acting
○ Vocal performances
○ Storytelling, including provision of audio descriptive services unless covered by a different agreement mentioned in the Non-Struck Work Notice to Members.
○ Stunt coordinating and related services
● Background work
● Stand-in work
● Photo and/or body doubles
● Fittings, wardrobe tests, and makeup tests
● Rehearsals and camera tests
● Scanning
● Interviews and auditions (including via self-tape)
Promotion of/publicity services for work under the TV/Theatrical Contracts, such as:
○ Tours
○ Personal appearances
○ Interviews
○ Conventions
○ Fan expos
○ Festivals
○ For your consideration events
○ Panels
○ Premieres/screenings
○ Award shows
○ Junkets
○ Podcast appearances
○ Social media
○ Studio showcases
Negotiating and/or entering into and/or consenting to:
○ An agreement to perform covered services in the future
○ Any new agreement related to merchandising connected to a covered project
○ Developing and utilizing digital replicas, which may involve reusing existing material
● Engaging in a performance on a trailer for a production or any additional content related to a production that has been affected by a strike
What Does The SAG-AFTRA Strike Mean For Hollywood?
With a vast array of forbidden tasks applicable to over 160,000 performers, the implications for Hollywood are now a subject of great curiosity. It is noteworthy that SAG-AFTRA is not the only significant labor union in Hollywood currently on strike. Since May 2nd, the Writers Guild has been part of the strike as well, effectively disrupting numerous productions that range from Daredevil: Born Again to The Penguin. Even projects that had already completed their scripts were unable to proceed with production without a writer present on set. Consequently, a multitude of productions now face the prospect of losing actors, stunt doubles, stand-ins, voice actors, singers, and dancers.
Under such circumstances, the actors' strike could potentially result in a complete shutdown of Hollywood. The aforementioned list renders all aspects of filmmaking almost impossible to accomplish. Movies and television shows that are currently in the initial stages of development will be unable to take flight due to actors' inability to negotiate or audition for new projects. Furthermore, ongoing productions will be forced to pause as they suffer from the departure of actors and crew members. Meanwhile, it remains uncertain whether films in post-production will even be released since arranging screenings, promotions, and premieres will be an arduous task, if not nearly impossible.
The strike has already made an impact, with the Oppenheimer cast leaving the film premiere when it was called. Moreover, the 2023 Emmys are likely to be postponed due to the strikes. While the WGA has already halted several productions, the actors' strike is anticipated to contribute significantly to that number. Although some productions may be able to proceed without a writer depending on their development stage, it is expected that the SAG-AFTRA's influence will be much more significant. The absence of 160,000 performers will bring almost every TV and film production to a stop.
