SAG-AFTRA Prepares Hollywood Publicists for Strike

According to Variety, Leadership from the SAG-AFTRA performers guild recently conducted a conference call with prominent Hollywood publicity agencies to prepare them for a potential strike. The purpose of the call was to inform the representatives about the necessary protocols and how the actors can best support the union in the event of a strike. Prior to the meeting, SAG-AFTRA's leadership sent a message to the PR agencies explaining that the union's National Board has the option to call for a strike if an agreement cannot be reached with the AMPTP. The goal of such a strike would be to improve the actors' careers and ensure a sustainable livelihood for them.

During the conference call, which was described by one participant as anxious, the publicists raised various questions, such as whether their clients would be allowed to participate in panels at the upcoming San Diego Comic Con and if they could fulfill promotional obligations outside the United States. As of now, there has been no response from a SAG-AFTRA representative regarding these inquiries.

This development serves as a significant indication that the union may follow in the footsteps of the Writers Guild of America by engaging in a battle with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for more favorable contracts. The current contract between actors and producers is scheduled to expire on July 12th 2023, a deadline that has already been delayed and has caused uncertainty in the industry for nearly two weeks.

According to a producer interviewed by Variety, it is highly unlikely that a deal will be reached by this Wednesday. Publicists have been concerned for weeks about the potential strike as they send actors to promote major summer blockbusters such as "Barbie," "Oppenheimer," and "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1." The agents responsible for negotiating deals for the stars are reportedly extremely worried upon hearing news of the conference call on Monday. Last week, there seemed to be optimism that a deal would be reached, but by Friday, according to an anonymous industry insider, "everything fell apart."