SAG-AFTRA Awaits AMPTP Response, WGA Resumes Dialogue Amid Strike
SAG-AFTRA's National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, declares that they are yet to hear from The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) since July 12, despite the producers' recent return to dialogue with the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Breaching a hiatus since May 2, when a strike was called, AMPTP and WGA are due to reconvene this Friday. However, the actors' union maintains an echo of silence from the Producer's Alliance.
Public and private readiness to revisit negotiation talks has been reiterated continuously by Crabtree-Ireland since July 12. Urging immediate dialogue, he stressed that conversation is the sole route to end the strike and resurrect the industry. In a recent Today show interview, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher echoed this sentiment. Expressing a prepared resilience to persist in the struggle, Drescher stated the guild is postured for the long haul and is fully equipped to endure up to six months of disenchantment.
SAG-AFTRA received affirmation in a note from the WGA yesterday. The note conveyed that Carol Lombardini of AMPTP reached out to WGA to arrange a dialogue session for this Friday. The Guild assured members that vital news would be communicated directly, and reminded them to dispel rumors.
In parallel developments, Drescher testified at a public committee hearing yesterday. She argued that the evolving streaming-era film and television industry still persists on the talents and contributions of actors and writers. As such, SAG-AFTRA and WGA members rightfully deserve a portion of the studios' streaming subscription income. The committee on labor issues approved these resolutions unanimously, forwarding them for contemplation by the full City Council. This follows a similar resolution passed unanimously by the Los Angeles City Council in June, signaling solidarity with the WGA.
New York Council Members Carmen De La Rosa and Amanda Farías ushered resolutions that, though non-binding, are perceived as an emblematic statement of political endorsement for unionized labor. Both SAG-AFTRA and WGA East greeted the gesture yesterday. When asked about forming breakout committees with the AMPTP to discuss specific areas like AI and residuals, Crabtree-Ireland informed Deadline that such is not the norm of SAG-AFTRA negotiations. As the WGA strike enters its 93rd day, SAG-AFTRA continues to uphold their stance on day 20 at the picket line.
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Now, let's pause for a moment, folks. Quite the party, isn’t it? We have negotiations, strikes, and solidarity resolutions running faster than streaming episodes on Netflix. This high stakes game of "Who Blinks First?" between SAG-AFTRA, AMPTP, and WGA would make for quite the origin story of Hollywood’s next Cinematic Universe.
SAG-AFTRA waving the red flag at AMPTP, not once but repetitively, while AMPTP does the hokey pokey with WGA, is an Oscar-worthy screenplay of irony. But let's not forget, amidst this riveting drama, that there’s an entire industry, our beloved show business, holding its breath and banking on the resolution of these unions’ tug-of-war.
President Drescher appears ready for a “Hunger Games” sequel, having prepared SAG-AFTRA for the next six months. But it begs to ask, who really are the victors in this marathon?
And let's tip our hats to council members De La Rosa and Farías. Their symbolic support might not influence the shuffle of Hollywood’s power dynamics, but it certainly makes for a warm and fuzzy "stand together" moment. It reminds us of the age-old truth - everyone loves to hitch their wagon to a star!
As per usual in Tinseltown, the plot thickens. While the WGA strike counts its 93rd day, SAG-AFTRA chalks 20 days at the picket line. Let's just hope this complicated union love triangle finds a way to intriguing resolution rather than a cancellation after the first season. After all, who doesn't love a good comeback story in Hollywood?
