As the SAG-AFTRA strike continues, there’s been backlash over waivers being given to some productions – the guild has addressed the concerns.
Hollywood is currently in a state of upheaval as SAG-AFTRA and the WGA strike simultaneously. However, while the majority of actors aren’t working, SAG has handed out waivers to ‘truly independent’ productions so that they may keep on shooting during the strike.
The practice has caused some concerns, particularly because those independent productions may end up being distributed by major studios, and therefore lining those studios’ pockets during a strike.
In a message to members, the guild has attempted to address those concerns, stating that the interim agreements are “vital part of our strategic approach to these negotiations and to the strike.”
Here is the main part of the statement, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter:
“Some have suggested that the Interim Agreement might prolong the strike, but we disagree. We believe the leverage created by increasing competitive pressure on the AMPTP and denying them what they want most will force them back to the table and help bring this strike to an end.
“We understand the concern that our Interim Agreement may produce content for struck companies to distribute. We are confident that the terms of this agreement, particularly the streaming revenue share, will make distribution of these projects through AMPTP platforms unfeasible, until such time as an industrywide agreement has been reached.”
The guild goes on to explain that they are only striking against the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers), and that independent production companies that agree to SAG’s terms are not struck companies.
SAG-AFTRA is clearly looking to put some pressure on the major studios with this strategy, showing that other companies are more than willing to agree to the terms that the AMPTP have resolutely rejected.
Hopefully that pressure will be felt, and will convince producers to open up negotiations in the near future.
Image: Getty Images
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