SAG-AFTRA Strike Keeps Hollywood Rolling with Interim Agreements

SAG-AFTRA, the American labor union representing over 160,000 film and television artists amongst others, initiated a strike against Hollywood studios since July 14. However, they've implemented an interim agreements program that enables independent productions, cut off from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), to carry on their filming operations.

Since the strike against AMPTP for not settling on a new film and television agreement, notable projects have received approval to continue their work. Among these are Angel Studios' religious series 'The Chosen', A24 films 'Mother Mary' and 'I Dream of Unicorns', as well as Apple TV+’s 'Tehran'. Actors like Anne Hathaway, Dakota Fanning, Glenn Close, James Badge Dale, Ben Foster, Graham Greene, and Melissa Leo continue to operate under these signed agreements.

Moving down the list approved by SAG-AFTRA, other films, and series include 'Adult Best Friends’, 'Aguadilla', 'American Deadbolt', 'American Nightmare', 'Anniversary', 'Ar Racist, The', 'Armadilla', 'Beneath the Grass', 'Beyond the Walls', 'Bob Trevino Likes It', 'Bootyology', 'Bride Hard', 'Buffalo Daze', 'Cafone, The', 'Conduit', 'Cuando Volvimos A La Tierra', and many more.

Further down the list we see titles like 'Death of a Unicorne', 'A Desert', 'Didi', 'Don’t Move', 'Dos Lados', 'Dream Devil', 'Dust Bunny', 'Exhibiting Forgiveness', 'F-Plus', 'Flight Risk', 'Fluxx', 'Friends And Foes', 'From Ashes', 'Ganymede’, and more.

Notable entries round off the list, including 'Killer’s Game, The', 'King Ivory', 'Leaves Of Glass', 'Legend of the White Dragon', 'Mother Mary', 'Mother, May I?', 'Mourning Rock', 'My Valentine Wedding', 'Osiris', and 'Paradise And Lunch', among others.

Dipping into the realm of satire, it’s refreshing to see that no amount of industrial action can put the brakes on Hollywood’s ceaseless dream machine. From ‘Armadilla’ to ‘Zanzibar Zebra Extravaganza’ (I may have invented that last one up), it seems the only barrier to getting a green light in Tinseltown is the ability to cobble together alliterative gobbledygook and copyright it before your artisanal coffee cools.

At first glance, the list of exemptions is a surreal mix of the sublime and the ridiculous. I’m not sure whether to brace for a biting exposé of the US security complex in 'American Deadbolt', or sit down with a bowl of popcorn for the schmaltzy 'Beneath the Grass'. And unless 'Bob Trevino Likes It' brings a game-changing twist to the underrepresented genre of agricultural revenge comedy, I'll be questioning SAG-AFTRA's curatorial chops.

Seeing some of the industry’s heaviest hitters like Anne Hathaway and Glenn Close on the list, however, brings a sense of comfort. In the middle of chaos, consistency. Perhaps they too are intrigued by what cinematic treasure 'Bootyology' may prove to be.

Ending on a serious note, it's evident the SAG-AFTRA is making strides to ensure that work continues amidst disagreements. To see such flexibility in a time of discord, and to acknowledge those who manage to creatively maneuver through it, truly speaks volumes about the resilience of Hollywood's heartbeat. As for the remaining waivers, let’s keep our fingers crossed for a sequel to 'Bob Trevino Likes it', tentatively titled 'Bob Trevino Still Can’t Get Enough'.