BREAKING: Hollywood Actors are Striking, Shuttering the Industry

For the first time in more than 60 years, writers and actors for TV and film are striking together.

More than 160,000 actors, recording artists, broadcast journalists, hosts, stunt performers, and other media professionals with SAG-AFTRA will be on strike as of midnight tonight.

They are joining the roughly 11,000 Writers Guild of America members who have been striking for two months. It’s the first time since 1960 that writers and actors have been on strike at the same time.

“Shame on them!” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher shouted at a press conference announcing the news. “You cannot keep being dwindled and marginalized and disrespected and dishonored. The entire business model has been changed by streaming, digital, AI… If we don't stand tall right now, we are all going to be in jeapoardy of being replaced by machines and big business, who cares more about Wall Street than you or your family!”

Streaming has broken the industry, with royalties and residual payments no longer linked to the popularity of a film or TV project. Successful actors are working second jobs. Some received $0 in residuals from Netflix shows with millions of viewers. And many have no health insurance.

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Meanwhile, top Hollywood executives have been raking in incredible fortunes.

The actors’ strike will bring Hollywood to a screeching halt, shutting down virtually all remaining film and TV projects that weren't already stopped by the writers’ strike. 

The contract fights for both unions overlap considerably. Both are demanding a fair process for paying residuals in the streaming age, improved health care and pension contributions, and restrictions on the use of AI in productions.

WGA and SAG-AFTRA members have huge leverage together. They’re using their power to try to save their livelihoods and the industry.