Publicists Decry SAG-AFTRA's Cold Shoulder Amid Strike Backlash

Publicists have come under the spotlight in Hollywood as they express their dissatisfaction over a recent meeting with leadership of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The now-public Zoom meeting was organized to address concerns of talent firms regarding the aftermath of dual strikes which have greatly impacted their businesses. SAG-AFTRA's National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, acknowledged the "collateral damage" the strikes might inflict on individuals in the industry, an acknowledgment which has triggered outrage among publicists.

In response to queries from Deadline, SAG-AFTRA refrained from commenting on the details of the private meeting. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of their members' fight for respect, dignity, and economic equity while recognizing the invaluable support they continue to receive from industry partners and members. The ultimate aim they said, is to secure a "fair and just deal from the studios and streamers."

A senior publicist from a premier firm described the atmosphere during the meeting as "negative" and "unsympathetic" towards PR professionals, accusing Crabtree-Ireland of failing to enlist the aid of the publicists who are capable of bolstering SAG-AFTRA’s message. The climate within the PR world post-meeting was characterized as one of "despair and anger."

The publicists are seeking a change in approach from the guild to publicity, citing the variance in the operation of SAG-AFTRA in comparison to the Writers Guild of America (WGA). While both guilds initially forbade promotion of projects with struck companies, the latter appears to be more flexible, allowing writers to fulfill obligations for awards seasons and theatrical campaigns respectively.

The publicists see the strike's impact growing, with talent rosters being emptied and contracts put on hiatus. Many are worried that if the strike continues into fall, some firms may never recover and be forced to shut down permanently.

Interestingly, there's a divide in sentiments, with some favouring the 'go-it-alone' stance of the script-generating writers, while others opine that actors, who portray the words, are more prone to following directives and staying in line. This division is exacerbating the situation, causing confusion and fear among publicists over what exactly needs to be done.

Now, with an air of uncertainty hanging over their future, publicists are organizing private meetings to discuss their course of action. However, the fear is so high that the first scheduled meeting had to be cancelled due to word getting out about it.

All in all, this year is shaping up to be a historic one for Hollywood - albeit in an unfortunate way. This is the first time since 1960 that the actors and writers have hit the picket lines in unison. While publicists do sympathise with the actors and writers in their negotiations, they feel that SAG-AFTRA has overextended in its publicity policy. Publicists believe themselves as crucial players within the "symbiotic" Hollywood community and would like to see some acknowledgement from the guild in return.

Now, for the Addison Prentice take on it all:

Clearly, the theaters of Tinsel Town are no longer confined to celluloid; now they're playing out in closed-door Zoom meetings with a liberal side serving of "collateral damage". I've always appreciated a good plot twist but this - publicists feel unappreciated? A disturbing subplot indeed.

The key players here aren't just the faces we binge-watch. It's also the PR gurus churning the Hollywood magic behind the scenes. And these gurus are peeved...understandably so. Their role is, after all, not unlike that of an orchestra conductor. They set the tempo, guide the harmonies, all to secure that standing ovation at the box office.

And it appears they had a rude awakening in the form of a Zoom-call standoff with SAG-AFTRA. The usually silent, behind-the-scenes conductors felt “dismissed,” with one claiming the climate was ripe with “despair and anger”. Strong emotions indeed. While Hollywood thrives on strong emotions, this seems a touch more 'Oscar-night snub' than 'award acceptance speech'.

Interestingly, while the writers dance with newfound flexibility, our gallant actors: who bring the penned words to life: are caught in a rigid tango with SAG-AFTRA. It’s like a misdirected sequel: one that has the potential to turn a blockbuster into a dud, and we all know no one likes an underperforming sequel.

It's true, this is no Hollywood romance. There's no climactic kiss in the rain or running into the sunset - yet. It's more like a cliffhanger from one of those arty indie films (no offence to arty indie films). We're all left hanging in suspense, wondering who will have the last laugh.

But Hollywood loves a good comeback story and the publicists are determined to have theirs. And hey, if the actors and writers can call 'strike!', then publicists, your moment in the spotlight is way overdue. Cue dramatic music.