Strike Update: Costume Drama, Generous Proposals and the 100th Day

October 21st was the 100th day of the SAG-AFTRA strike. For a brief, shining moment, it seemed certain to be lurching toward a conclusion in the wake of the WGA reaching a deal with the AMPTP on September 24th.

Nearly two weeks ago, SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP negotiators walked away from the table without any progress, and both sides engaged in finger-pointing and name-calling, with the biggest hurdle appearing to be a gap of nearly $500 million per year in streaming pay and residuals.

In an op-ed piece she wrote for Deadline on the 100th day of the strike, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher reiterated the union’s position. “We must increase employer contributions into health and pension funds,” she said. “We must ensure our lowest-paid members receive minimum wage increases that keep up with inflation. We must have informed consent and compensation for the use of AI. And, we must agree on fair compensation for the shift from an industry dominated by linear TV to one in which streaming reigns.”

One of those issues was brought up by a selection of bigger stars, including George Clooney, Emma Stone, Ben Affleck, Tyler Perry and Scarlett Johansson, who made an offer to remove the $1 million cap on membership dues, which would raise a lot of money for the union.

Clooney told Deadline, “A lot of the top earners want to be part of the solution. We’ve offered to remove the cap on dues, which would bring over $50 million to the union annually. Well over $150 million over the next three years. We think it’s fair for us to pay more into the union. We also are suggesting a bottom-up residual structure — meaning the top of the call sheet would be the last to collect residuals, not the first. These negotiations will be ongoing, but we wanted to show that we’re all in this together and find ways to help close the gap on actors getting paid.”

In response, Drescher took to Instagram and said thanks, but no thanks, as the offer isn’t legally compatible with the union’s contract, and “does not impact the contract that we’re striking over whatsoever.”

“We are a federally regulated labor union and the only contributions that can go into our pension and health funds must be from the employer,” she continued. “So what we are fighting for in terms of benefits has to remain in this contract.”

Not that there weren’t some unintentional fun and games over the past week, as the union declared that Halloween costumes representing characters owned by members of the AMPTP were off-limits.

A predictable uproar ensued, with Ryan Reynolds tweeting, “I look forward to screaming ‘scab’ at my 8-year-old all night. She’s not in the union but she needs to learn,” and former SAG president Melissa Gilbert writing on Instagram, “THIS is what you guys come up with? Literally, no one cares what anyone wears for Halloween. I mean, do you really think this kind of infantile stuff is going to end the strike? We look like a joke. Please tell me you’re going to make this rule go away… and go negotiate!”

The union clarified that the dictate “does not apply to anyone’s kids,” to the relief of all.

With the two sides at an impasse and everyone involved losing money, people have been wondering when negotiations would continue.

On Thursday, lead negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said, “I did not expect [negotiations] would have to go so long. The amount of time spent without negotiating has been completely unconscionable. The studios and streamers ought to be back at the table with us now. They should have been there the first 80 days but they weren’t. I am very eager to see that happen and I believe it will happen soon. I think there’s a lot of pressure happening outside of formal channels to get people back to the table, so I’m optimistic that that will happen sometime soon. But I know that we’re just going to stand strong and get a fair deal.”

Whatever external pressure was put on the AMPTP, it worked. The two sides have agreed to return to the bargaining table tomorrow. Hope springs eternal that a deal can be made. Stay tuned.

There are plenty of strike-compliant roles available on Casting Networks. Sign up or login and see what’s casting near you today!

You may also like:

• 4 Subtle Grooming and Makeup Tips that Will Change Your Look for Auditions
• Now Casting: Levi’s Denim, Holiday Commercials
• Katherine Warnock Talks Season 4 of ‘The Chosen’