The actors’ strike continues to spread, causing interruptions in set work and mass exodus of stars from premieres. One such incident occurred at yesterday’s premiere of the movie “Oppenheimer.” The cast of Christopher Nolan’s show showed support for the strikers and left the audience. Speaking from the stage, the director expressed his support for the actors’ stance.
The exodus of actors has already begun, as evidenced by the recent premiere of “Oppenheimer” in London. The event was rescheduled to allow time for interviews with the actors before the strike commenced. Christopher Nolan informed the audience that the stars of the production, including Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Rami Malek, and Florence Pugh, left the cinema in solidarity with the strikers.
Even during red carpet interviews, Emily Blunt announced their intention to leave the cinema if a strike was called, emphasizing the importance of reaching a fair agreement. She stated, “We’re here to celebrate our movie. But if they call a strike, we will walk out of here together, expressing our unity. We will have to. We’ll see what happens. I’m glad we’re together now.”
Christopher Nolan voiced his support for the strikers from the stage, praising the exceptional work of the cast. He mentioned their presence on the red carpet and their decision to participate in the Actors Guild strike, alongside his own guild, the Writers Guild, in advocating for fair wages for union members. Nolan reiterated his support during the second premiere of “Oppenheimer” in London, receiving resounding applause from the audience, which included directors Alfonso Cuarón and Mike Newell.
The strike by actors is primarily motivated by the significant changes studios have made to their business models, which are not adequately reflected in the Hollywood contracts that have remained unchanged for years. The actors are demanding a share of profits from streaming revenues, known as residual profit. However, studios and platforms are reluctant to disclose viewership data necessary for calculating royalties. The guild also seeks to address issues related to the use of artificial intelligence and ensure compensation for AI-generated copies of actors’ images.
The Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) emphasized the decline in actors’ earnings over the past decade due to the growth of the streaming ecosystem. They also highlighted the existential threat posed by artificial intelligence to creative professions. The guild released a statement asserting the need for legal protections to prevent the unauthorized use of actors’ talents without permission or payment.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing the studios’ interests in negotiations, expressed disappointment over the lack of agreement. They emphasized that the union’s decision to abandon negotiations led to the rejection of their proposal for historic wage raises, increased residual income, improved health benefits, casting security, an expedited series renewal process, and groundbreaking AI protections for actors’ images. AMPTP stated that the Guild’s actions would worsen the financial difficulties faced by thousands of individuals dependent on the film industry for their livelihoods.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, managing director of the actors’ union, commented at a SAG-AFTRA press conference, “If you think this is a historic proposition, think again.”
