Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike on July 14, 2023. But despite the immediate work stoppage, a handful of actors can still work on their respective films and television series. The majority of actors who belong to the union are not allowed to appear in projects during the strike. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
The previous contract between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired on June 30, 2023, so negotiations for a new agreement started weeks beforehand. However, similar to the Writers Guild of America (WGA)'s contract negotiations with AMPTP in April 2023, SAG-AFTRA's discussions with the trade association went nowhere. The studios were unwilling to sign off on the actors' requests, and as a result, SAG-AFTRA ed their WGA coworkers on the picket lines in Los Angeles and New York. They will continue striking until AMPTP meets their needs. Although both actors and writers are on strike as of the writing of this article, some projects are still being produced.
Shows & Movies Can Apply To Be Exempt From The SAG-AFTRA Strike
At its primary level, the SAG-AFTRA strike means that most actors are not allowed to work on movies, commercials, television shows, or any project that features their faces. They also cannot promote their work, which is especially disheartening, given the slew of exciting releases, including Barbie and Oppenheimer. Even though the majority of actors who belong to the SAG-AFTRA union must strike and stop work immediately, there are some exceptions.
A handful of television series and films can apply to SAG-AFTRA to be exempt from the actors strike. As a result, SAG-AFTRA can grant these special shows and movies waivers that allow them to continue filming and using actors protected under the union. However, the projects must meet specific requirements to receive these waivers and be allowed to be exempt from the actors strike, and most productions don't qualify.
Which Shows & Movies Qualify For Strike Exemptions? AMPTP Connection Explained
Per Deadline, films and television shows must not be d with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and be completely independently produced to be excluded from the strike. Plus, the actors of said productions must acknowledge the new contract whenever a deal between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP is agreed upon. Also, projects that don't employ actors who are not d with SAG-AFTRA can continue, which is a rarity since the union s more than 160,000 performers.
Because most television series and movies are associated with AMPTP, a majority of projects, including Deadpool 3, had to shut down production while their actors strike. Shows and films cannot be made without performers, after all, despite the studios' desire to increase the usage of artificial intelligence (AI). With writers and most actors striking, Hollywood is nearing an almost complete shutdown.
While SAG-AFTRA represents actors and performers, AMPTP represents notable studios (Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and the Walt Disney Company), streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+), and broadcast television networks (CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX). These companies release the majority of films and television shows. However, a handful of projects aren't d with these studios, streaming services, or networks, meaning they can continue filming.
Notable Shows & Movies That Can Continue Filming During The SAG-AFTRA Strike
Two of the most remarkable television series continuing to film while SAG-AFTRA are on strike are The Chosen and House of the Dragon. Although The Chosen features SAG-d actors, like Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus, the show is allowed to shoot season 4 after SAG-AFTRA approved them for a waiver. The Chosen season 4 can continue filming because it is an independent production distributed by Angel Studios and isn't associated with any company AMPTP represents.
Meanwhile, House of the Dragon is allowed to film because most of the show's actors are from the United Kingdom and belong to a separate union, Equity. The actors that are represented by Equity are not permitted to the SAG-AFTRA performers on the picket lines in solidarity. Coincidentally, House of the Dragon season 2 goes on.
As for films, actors like Jenna Ortega, Matthew McConaughey, and Mark Wahlberg continue working on movie productions during the strike. SAG-AFTRA granted their projects waivers since they are independently produced and not d with AMPTP. Ortega is involved in A24's Death of a Unicorn, which also stars Paul Rudd. McConaughey is working on The Rivals of Amziah King, and Wahlberg is acting in Flight Risk. So if an actor is working on an independent production, SAG-AFTRA will allow them to appear in it, even while the strike is ongoing.
Source: Deadline
