Hollywood shuts down as actors join writers in historic strike
- Hollywood studios face first dual work stoppage in decades, forcing them to halt many productions across the US
- Actors demand increases in base pay plus assurances that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence
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Actors join screenwriters in Hollywood’s 1st dual strike since 1960 after contract talks collapse
Tens of thousands of Hollywood actors have gone on strike, effectively bringing the giant movie and television business to a halt as they join writers in the first industry-wide walkout for 63 years.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) issued a strike order after last-ditch talks with studios on their demands over dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence ended without a deal.
“This is a moment of history, a moment of truth - if we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble,” SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher told a press conference on Thursday, following the union board’s unanimous vote to strike.
“We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business.”
The strike formally went into effect at midnight Thursday. On Friday, actors were to join writers on picket lines in the first Hollywood double strike since 1960.
