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A Quick Guide for Working During the SAG-AFTRA Strike


July 14, 2023

It’s official: SAG-AFTRA has decided to strike. The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike is the first film and TV actors’ strike since 1980 and the first actor-writer double strike since 1960. And although many film and TV productions have now been paused, there are still plenty of projects that are unaffected. That means you will still find fresh strike-compliant roles posted daily on Casting Networks.

Here are the types of projects in which SAG-AFTRA members can still perform, as well as a list of prohibited projects and links to official strike resources.

What projects can I work on?

The SAG-AFTRA strike only affects specific types of work, enabling members to continue working under a number of SAG-AFTRA contracts, including:

  • Union on-camera television and radio commercials
  • Union voiceover and off-camera commercials including dubbing, audiobooks and podcasts
  • Corporate, educational & non-broadcast (formerly “Industrial”)
  • Union-approved student films
  • Television programs covered by the network code, such as daytime serials/soaps, variety shows, talk shows, etc.
  • Sound recordings and music videos
  • Station contracts and broadcast news
  • Interactive media
  • Influencer Agreement
  • Cameo for Business Agreement
  • Short Project Agreement (SPA)
  • Micro Budget Agreement (Micro)
  • Student Film Agreement (Student)

 
A complete list of non-struck work was provided in the Notice to Members Regarding Non-Struck Work. If you are uncertain about whether or not you can audition for, accept or continue working on a project, email sagaftrastrike@sagaftra.org.

You will find plenty of strike-compliant casting calls open for submissions on Casting Networks.

You may also be able to work on projects produced by production companies not affiliated with AMPTP, if their projects qualify for an Interim Agreement. You can find a list of projects operating under an Interim Agreement at sagaftrastrike.org.

What types of work are prohibited?

SAG-AFTRA has told its members not to participate in any services covered under the TV/Theatrical Contracts stated in the SAG-AFTRA strike notice. These include:

  • Principal on-camera work. This includes acting, singing, dancing, performing stunts, piloting on-camera aircraft, puppeteering,
  • performance capture or motion capture work.
  • Principal off camera work, meaning ADR/looping, TV trailers (promos) and theatrical trailers, voice acting, singing, narration — including audio-descriptive services not stated in the SAG-AFTRA non-strike work guidelines, stunt coordinating and related services.
  • Background work
  • Stand-in work
  • Photo and/or body doubles
  • Fittings, wardrobe tests, and makeup tests
  • Rehearsals and camera tests
  • Scanning
  • Interviews and auditions (including via self tape)
  • Promotion of/publicity services for work under the TV/Theatrical Contracts (tours, personal appearances, interviews, conventions, fan expos, festivals, for your consideration events, panels, premieres/screenings, award shows, junkets, podcast appearances, social media, studio showcases).
  • Negotiating and/or entering into and/or consenting to an agreement to perform covered services in the future, any new agreement related to merchandising connected to a covered project, The creation and use of digital replicas, including through the reuse of prior work.
  • Performing on a trailer for a struck production or other ancillary content connected to a struck production.

 
For any additional questions, please check the SAG-AFTRA Strike FAQ and official strike notice. And if you’re across the pond, take a look at Equity’s solidarity statement.

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