SAG-AFTRA Strikes, Gives Lifeline to Indies with Interim Agreements
SAG-AFTRA, the prominent American union for film and television performers, went on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on July 14, following unsuccessful negotiations for a new TV and film contract. However, in a recent development, the union has launched an interim agreements program. Under this program, independent productions with no direct ties to members of AMPTP are permitted to continue their filming processes.
The guild has been consistently updating the list of projects that have received waivers since shortly after the strike’s initiation. Some of the notable projects granted waivers include the biblically-oriented series "The Chosen," produced by Angel Studios; A24's films "Mother Mary" and "I Dream of Unicorns," and Apple TV+'s "Tehran."
Acclaimed actors such as Anne Hathaway, Dakota Fanning, Glenn Close, James Badge Dale, Ben Foster, Graham Greene, and Melissa Leo are among those able to continue working under these interim agreements.
SAG-AFTRA has organized a closing list based on film and series names. The list, which includes films like "Adult Best Friends" by Adult Best Friends LLC and "American Nightmare" by New York Nightmare Production LLC, is continuously updated with more titles granting waivers to their projects.
Among the noteworthy TV series are Angel Studios’ “The Chosen,” Apple TV+’s “Tehran” and “Hal & Harper” by Bad Bangs LLC. The list is all-inclusive, from the movie “Bob Trevino Likes It” by Chosen Family LLC to the intriguingly titled “Buffalo Daze” by 3 Buffalo Girls Productions, LLC, indicating a broad range of projects under the interim agreement.
Lines and lines of film and series continue through "Exhibiting Forgiveness" from Exhibiting Forgiveness Inc., “Just Breathe” by Rockwood Champ LLC, the aptly titled “Watchers” from Hunched Lady Productions LLC, all the way down to “Young Claude” created by Brick By Brick Productions LLC.
---
Now, turning the magnifying glass back to Hollywood from this bird’s eye view of waivers, what does this interim agreement signify? Perhaps, SAG-AFTRA is dropping breadcrumbs for AMPTP, signaling a possible avenue to keep some part of the industry going while the bigger beasts puzzle out their differences off the chessboard.
On a deeper level, the interim agreement acts like a breath mint in an extraordinary bout of halitosis. The strike undeniably halts business-as-usual, creating an overwhelming stench of stalled talks, paused projects, and stagnant negotiations. This list of “allowed” independent productions serves as a little refreshing gust in a rather tense stalemate.
Secondly, industry aficionados would do well to look closely at the waiver graced productions as bellwethers of trends and potential award winners. Hollywood has never been far from that high school clique mentality. Who's in, who's out, who's graced with the golden ticket of the waiver - it's the real-world version of picking teams for dodgeball, only much, much grander stakes.
Yet, the strike predominantly remains a monolith reminding us of the pressing need for more equitable contracts in the entertainment industry. It's also a testament to the shifting times as performers rise to assert their value rather than accepting any ephemeral stardust Hollywood chooses to sprinkle.
Strike or no strike, Hollywood continues its eternal dance, and saying it with the most Hollywood-esque flair - the show must, and will go on. The question, 'Who will take centre stage during this unprecedented performance?' , however, remains thrillingly open-ended.
