The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA unveiled on July 18 a list of 39 films and series that are allowed to continue shooting despite the ongoing strike. According to Variety, the union has granted “waivers” for productions that prove their independence from majors in the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (which includes Paramount Pictures, Universal, Disney Studios, Warner Bros, Netflix, Apple, Amazon , etc). Some of these projects have already been completed. But the films had to get permission for the actors to promote it.
Included in this list are two projects from A24, an AMPTP independent production company: Mother Mary, a drama directed by David Lowery and starring Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel (Black Panther) and Hunter Schafer (Euphoria). And Death of a Unicorn, a comedy featuring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega. Other films and series are listed, such as the thriller The Rivals of Amazing King with Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar). Mel Gibson’s new thriller Flight Risk, worn by Mark Wahlberg or even the feature film The Yellow Tie, where John Malkovich plays Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache, can also continue shooting.
Duncan Crabtree-Irland, powerful executive director of the SAG-AFTRA syndicate, encourages actors to take an active part in these projects. “If independent productions are able to move forward on union terms, that contradicts the studios’ view that union demands are unrealistic,” he said during a briefing. conference call. For the first time in 63 years, the actors joined the screenwriters on July 14, who have been on strike since May 1. The 160,000 actors are demanding wage demands, at half mast with the streaming platforms. They also want to obtain guarantees regarding the arrival of artificial intelligence in the industry, and to protect themselves so that it does not generate scripts or clone their voice and image.
This blackout is currently having major repercussions on projects that are eagerly awaited by the public. Blockbusters are laid off, such as Gladiator 2 by Ridley Scott, the production of Tim Burton Beetlejuice 2 or Deadpool 3 with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
