Indie Productions Bypass SAG-AFTRA Strike with Interim Agreements
Title: Interim Agreements Allow Independent Productions to Continue Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike
July 14 marked the beginning of SAG-AFTRA’s strike against Hollywood studios, a significant event that put a pause on numerous film and television projects. In a recent development, the guild has initialized an interim agreements program, specifically designed to permit independent productions, unaffiliated to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), to carry on with their filming schedules.
This initiative began shortly after SAG-AFTRA went on strike, as an inability to negotiate new film and TV contracts with the AMPTP led to a standstill. Now, thanks to the interim agreements, certain projects have been granted waivers letting them resume production.
Prominent among these is Angel Studios' Bible-based series, 'The Chosen', A24 films 'Mother Mary' and 'I Dream of Unicorns', and Apple TV+'s series, 'Tehran'. This arrangement allows the continuation of work for many notable actors such as Anne Hathaway, Dakota Fanning, Glenn Close, James Badge Dale, Ben Foster, Graham Greene, and Melissa Leo, among others.
SAG-AFTRA has been systematically organizing films and series allowed to carry on based on the list of granted agreements. Among the numerous titles included are 'Adult Best Friends', 'Aguadilla', 'American Deadbolt', 'American Nightmare', 'Anniversary', 'Ar Racist', 'Armadilla', 'Beneath the Grass', 'Beyond the Walls', 'Bob Trevino Likes It', 'Bootyology', 'Bride Hard', 'Cafone', 'Conduit', 'Death of a Unicorne', 'A Desert', 'Don’t Move', 'Dos Lados', 'Dream Devil', 'Dust Bunny', 'Exhibiting Forgiveness', 'F-Plus', 'Flight Risk', 'Fluxx', 'From Ashes', 'Ganymede', 'Greatest Ever, The', 'Ick', 'Isaac', 'Just Breathe', 'Killer’s Game, The', 'King Ivory', 'Legend of the White Dragon', 'Mother Mary', 'Mother, May I?', 'Mourning Rock', 'My Valentine Wedding', 'Osiris', 'Paradise And Lunch', 'Queen of the Ring', 'Ritual', 'Rivals of Amziah King', 'Roses on the Vine', 'Sell Out', 'Short Game', 'Sod and Stubble', 'Sound', 'Summer Book, The', 'Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)', 'Superthief', 'Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (23/24)', 'Chosen, The (23/24)', 'Gray House (2023)', 'Hal & Harper (23/24)', 'Sight Unseen (23/24)', 'Tehran (23/24)'.
Fasten your seatbelts, folks, because this is where we dive into the deep end of the Hollywood pool. Resistance might be futile, but it sure knows how to make a splash. It appears that the SAG-AFTRA strike is transforming into a production negotiation Olympics of sorts, where waivers, instead of medals, are being awarded. And with this parallel Universe of Interim Agreements, independent productions are finessing their dive routines rather beautifully.
Of course, every circus (even the Hollywood kind) needs its ringmasters or this case, ringbearers. Stepping into the spotlight, we have the likes of 'The Chosen' and 'Tehran', two series that have reminded us that skipping the queue is definitely possible if you've got a waiver up your sleeve. And with a roster of A-listers like Anne Hathaway, Dakota Fanning and Glenn Close being able to continue their work, it feels less like a strike and more like an everyday game of 'Hollywood Monopoly'.
In the end, it appears the independent artists are the ones drawing the longest straws here, at least for now. Whether this is the rehearsal for a new era in the industry or a one-act tragicomedy in the SAG-AFTRA strike play, the independent productions and their ability to roll the cameras amidst chaos are worth an applause. The final conclusion to this Hollywood dramatic saga remains to be seen, but in the meantime, 'Lights, camera, independent action!' seems to be the trending tagline.
