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It was 10 a.m., adoring union members had already more or less mobbed their president, Fran Drescher, and the crowd was growing by the minute. Outside Netflix offices in Hollywood, a festive, celebratory mood had taken over the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue. It was a workers’ strike, to be sure. But it felt a little like a summer Friday street party — one with a few famous guests. We bring so much joy to people by entertaining them,” Crew added.

Persons: Fran Drescher, “ We’re, ”, Amanda Crew, Dustin Milligan, “ Organizations: Netflix Locations: Hollywood, Sunset, Van, Silicon

Trouble in TinseltownIt’s happening: America’s $134 billion movie and TV industry has ground to a halt after the Hollywood actors’ union voted to strike, joining screenwriters and shutting down virtually all productions. The move reflects the growing aggressiveness of the American labor movement, which has been battling against Starbucks, Amazon, UPS and others. The actors’ union blasted studios for refusing to bend on key issues, including higher payouts from streaming titles and clear limits on the use of artificial intelligence. Shame on them!”The studios argue that the unions’ demands are unrealistic, given the challenges the entertainment industry faces, from streaming to fallout from the pandemic. “This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption,” Bob Iger, Disney’s C.E.O., said on CNBC yesterday.

Persons: ’, ” Fran Drescher, Bob Iger, Disney’s Organizations: Hollywood, Starbucks, SAG, CNBC Locations: Amazon, —

☆ George Clooney says entertainment industry is at an 'inflection point' as actors like Jason Sudeikis hit picket lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Dan Heching Cheri Mossburg Chloe Melas | Dan Heching | Cheri Mossburg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Oscar winner George Clooney has joined the chorus of artists calling for change as actors hit the picket lines in their first strike against film and television studios since 1980. “This is an inflection point in our industry,” Clooney told CNN in a statement on Friday. The SAG-AFTRA strike was officially announced on Thursday. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, stressed to reporters on Friday that the actors’ strike is not a ploy for big name stars to make more money. The writers’ strike had already halted production on most films and television shows.

Persons: CNN — Oscar, George Clooney, ” Clooney, ”, “ Ted Lasso ”, Jason Sudeikis, Sudeikis, Alexi Rosenfeld, Constance Zimmer, Lisa Edelstein, Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, ” Crabtree Organizations: CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, Writers Guild of America East, NBC Rockefeller Center, Getty, WGA Locations: New York, Ireland

The actors' union said on Thursday its board had unanimously agreed to a strike after failing to reach a deal with studios, including Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Netflix Inc (NFLX.O). Officials said actors would join picket lines in New York and Los Angeles starting on Friday. The economic damage is expected to spread after actors join the picket lines. The actors' walkout will shut down the studios' remaining U.S.-based productions of film and scripted television and hamper many overseas shoots. Britain's main entertainment industry union Equity said it backed its U.S. counterpart and would be bringing up many of the same issues in its own contract negotiations over the next 12 months.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Drescher, Rather, AFTRA, Paul Fleming, Lisa Richwine, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Diane Craft, Andrew Heavens, Barbara Lewis Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Studios, Britain's Equity, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Los Angeles, Equity, U.S ., Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hollywood's, New York, Los, California, Britain, London

☆ Actors set to hit picket lines Friday in largest US strike in 26 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Actors are set to hit picket lines Friday morning in their first strike against film and TV productions since 1980 and the nation’s largest strike since 1997. This is the largest number of union members to be on strike since 180,000 Teamsters walked out on UPS in 1997. The Teamsters, who have 340,000 members at UPS, are threatening to strike the parcel delivery giant on August 1 without a new contract. The actors also join more than 11,000 member of the Writers Guild of America who have been on strike against the same studios and streaming services since May 2. Actors are due on picket lines in Los Angeles and New York at 9 am PDT and noon EDT Friday.

Persons: It’s, Ronald Reagan, ”, “, Duncan Crabtree, Fran Drescher, –, Natasha Chen Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Teamsters, UPS, Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors, Management, Alliance, Television Producers, ” Locations: New York, Southern California, Los Angeles and New York, Ireland

Fran Drescher with SAG-AFTRA members at a SAG-AFTRA news conference today. If we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble," she said at Thursday's press conference. Drescher said she started negotiations thinking a strike could be avoided, and was shocked by what she said was the corporate greed of management's proposals. And she concluded the press conference saying she expects the general public will support the actors in the strike, and issuing a warning that foretold what could happen if they don't win. "If we let this happen to us, dollars to donuts it going to happen to you and your family, your children and everyone you work with too.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Drescher Organizations: SAG, CNN SAG Locations: Southern California

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (Reuters) - Hollywood actors will go on strike at midnight on Thursday after talks with studios broke down, joining film and television writers who have been on picket lines since May and deepening the disruption of scores of shows and movies. The actors' union announced at a Thursday press conference that the strike will begin at midnight after its national board unanimously authorized the walkout. Fran Drescher, former star of "The Nanny" TV show and the president of SAG-AFTRA, called the studios' responses to actors' concerns "insulting and disrespectful." But the loss of actors, who will also not promote their films or TV shows while on strike, will put more pressure on media companies to find a resolution. The economic damage is expected to spread after actors join the picket lines on Friday.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Drescher, AFTRA, Rather, Duncan Crabtree, Ridley Scott, Bob Iger, Iger, Matt Damon, Oppenheimer, Lisa Richwine, Jonathan Allen, Dawn Chmielewski, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Mark Porter, Bill Berkrot Organizations: SAG, Writers Guild of America, Television Producers, Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co, Reuters, Alliance, Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, WGA, Screen Actors Guild, Disney, CNBC, Comcast, Paramount Global, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, United States, Hollywood's, Morocco, Malta, Idaho, California

☆ Actors are joining writers on strike against the Hollywood companies, and they're driven by a fear plaguing workers everywhere: Robots are coming for our jobs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Hollywood writers are entering their third month on strike. Film and TV writers say they're among those who have fared the worst as their industry has been remade, even as others reap the rewards. These Hollywood storytellers share something in common with workers in every industry: Everyone is afraid that the robots are coming for their jobs, Terminator-style. Now, they're some of the dominant forces controlling new content development in the entertainment industry. Recently, I reported on how the Hollywood writers' strike is dispiriting industry hopefuls at the outset of their careers — you can read it here.

Persons: Everything's, Fran Drescher, Adam Conover, Ted Sarandos, Bob Iger, Goldman Sachs, You've, We've, Jonathan Handel, Puck, they'll, Zayd Dohrn, —, Dohrn, Reed Alexander Organizations: Morning, NBC, Nickelodeon, Disney, Hollywood, Netflix, Wall, ., Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Apple, Big Tech, WGA, Northwestern University Locations: Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York, Chicago

☆ Hollywood actors set to strike after talks with studios and streaming services fail to reach a deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It could be the first simultaneous strike by actors and writers in more than 60 years. The union representing 160,000 actors is set to call for a strike after contract talks failed to reach an agreement. And not since 1960 have both the actors and writers' unions taken industrial action at the same time. The union's negotiating committee voted unanimously to recommend a strike, on which its national board will vote Thursday morning. The results of SAG-AFTRA's national board vote on strike action are due to be announced at a press conference at 12 p.m. PT Thursday.

Persons: Netflix —, AFTRA, Fran Drescher, Rodin Eckenroth, Duncan Crabtree Organizations: SAG, Morning, Alliance, Television Producers, Warner Bros, Disney, Netflix, Guild of America Locations: Ireland

☆ Actors union will join writers on strike, shutting down Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hollywood actors are officially headed to the picket line. Unable to reach a deal with producers, members of The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will join up with more than 11,000 already striking film and television writers starting at midnight. The failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers means film and television productions featuring actors will immediately halt, essentially shutting down Hollywood. "We are the victims here," said Fran Drescher, president of the actors union, during a press conference Thursday. During the strike actors will not be permitted to promote past projects through conventions, interviews or panels.

Persons: It'll, Fran Drescher, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Drescher Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Hollywood, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Television Producers, SAG, Fox, WGA Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hollywood, London

The stage was different, and so was the tone. “The eyes of the world and particularly the eyes of labor are upon us,” Ms. Drescher said. What’s happening to us is happening across all fields of labor.”She shook her fists in indignation. “I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us!” she continued. Shame on them!”Ms. Drescher is the latest in a long line of familiar faces — Ronald Reagan, Patty Duke and Charlton Heston among them — to run SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents tens of thousands of screen actors.

Persons: Fran Drescher, ”, ” Ms, Drescher, “, Ms, — Ronald Reagan, Patty Duke, Charlton Heston Organizations: SAG Locations: Hollywood

Many of the actors’ demands mirror those of the writers, whose own strike had already brought many productions to a halt. Actors and screenwriters have not been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Marilyn Monroe was still near her peak. The first distress signal for the studios came in early June when roughly 65,000 members of the actors’ union — nearly 98 percent of voters — backed authorizing a strike. The actors’ walkout would provide additional support to the striking writers, who have been walking picket lines for more than 70 days. Read more about the writers’ strike.

Persons: Brooks Barnes, John Koblin, ’, Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, John Leguizamo, Jennifer Lawrence, Constance Wu, Ben Stiller, ”, Fran Drescher, ” Ms, Drescher, “ Organizations: SAG, Disney, Universal, Sony, Paramount, Netflix, Apple, —, Alliance, Television Producers, Writers Guild of America Locations: California

☆ ‘Oppenheimer’ cast walks out of UK premiere ahead of SAG strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The cast of director Christopher Nolan’s hotly anticipated war-era drama “Oppenheimer” is standing united in the effort to support the SAG-AFTRA strike. Stars of the film appeared on the red carpet of the film’s UK premiere on Thursday before the strike was officially announced, but they ended up walking out of the event “to write their picket signs,” according to Nolan. Addressing the audience inside the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square theater before the screening began, as seen in videos posted to social media, Nolan acknowledged the work of Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh and Robert Downey Jr., among other “Oppenheimer” cast members. The strike is set to go into effect at midnight PT Thursday night. “Oppenheimer” is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 21.

Persons: Christopher Nolan’s, “ Oppenheimer ”, Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr, “, you’ve, ” Nolan, Oppenheimer, Blunt, we’ll, ” Blunt, ’, Fran Drescher Organizations: CNN, SAG, Odeon Luxe, Square, Guild of America, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Hollywood actors set the stage for strike action after contract negotiations fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Daniel Arkin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Scenes of the mountains in front of the hollywood sign On March 5th 2017 in Los Angeles, United States of America. The contract between the two sides expired just before midnight on Wednesday, capping days of high-stakes negotiations and suspense. (The group represents Comcast, the corporation that owns NBCUniversal; some employees of the NBCUniversal News Group are represented by the WGA.) The actors' strike will likely force other sets to go dark. SAG-AFTRA members authorized a strike on June 5 by an overwhelming margin: 97.91% of the nearly 65,000 members who cast votes.

Persons: Fran Drescher, AFTRA Organizations: SAG, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, AFTRA's, Apple, Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Writers Guild of America, Comcast, NBCUniversal, WGA, Guild of America, DGA, CNBC, Alliance, Television Producers Locations: Los Angeles, United States of America, Hollywood, NBCUniversal

☆ Actors are poised to go on strike against studios and streaming services
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The actors could be on strike themselves without a last-minute deal with studios and streaming services on Wednesday. Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980. Just before the last deadline, it seemed as if an actors strike could be avoided.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Robyn Beck, It’s, Tom Nunan, Jonathan Handel, Handel, “, it’s, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, —, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Drescher, –, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., Federal Mediation, Conciliation Service, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, AMPTP, Gabbana’s Locations: New York, AFP, Moda, Southern Italy

☆ SAG actors union President Fran Drescher criticized for Italy trip on eve of possible strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Fran Drescher, the president of the SAG-AFTRA union, is facing criticism for traveling to Italy to attend Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda festivities this past weekend as her 160,000-member actors union faces a Thursday deadline to go on strike. And we are concerned by the idea that SAG-AFTRA members may be ready to make sacrifices that leadership is not. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. There has been no visible progress in ending the writers strike since it started on May 2. This could be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: New York CNN — Fran Drescher, Kim Kardashian, ”, Lenny Jacobson, Briana, Taffy Brodesser, AFTRA, Drescher, you’ve, Blockbuster hadn’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Gabbana’s, Moda, Guild of America, “, WGA, Dolce, Blockbuster, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery Locations: New York, Italy, LA

☆ A Second Strike Is Threatening Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Why It Matters: A second strike could shut Hollywood down completely. Hollywood is already 80 percent shut down since the writers went on strike on May 2. While some television shows and movies continued filming, the writers were surprisingly effective in shutting down shows in production. During the last writers’ strike 15 years ago, the Los Angeles economy lost an estimated $2.1 billion. The effects of a dual strike would also soon be coming to your television, with network shows going into reruns and a likely proliferation of reality television.

Persons: ’, Ronald Reagan, Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Drescher Organizations: Screen, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York City, Ireland

☆ Actors poised to join writers on strike against studios and picket lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Industry experts like Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shutdown by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. There has been no visible progress in ending the writers strike since it started. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: Jonathan Handel, ”, Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Interestingl, Drescher, “, “ It’s, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Actors delay potential strike against studios and streaming services, extending contract negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A union representing about 160,000 actors has put plans to go on strike against major studios and streaming services on hold. But that doesn’t mean that a strike will now be avoided, said Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. The actors union has not been on strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: “, ”, Fran Drescher, Drescher, Jonathan Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, ”, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Hollywood, Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., AMPTP, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Hollywood Actors Extend Contract Talks at Deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The union representing some 160,000 television and movie actors said on Friday night that it would continue contract negotiations with the major Hollywood studios and streaming services, extending the current deal — which had been set to expire at midnight — through July 12. The decision is a welcome reprieve, at least for the moment, for a beleaguered Hollywood, where a writers’ strike has entered its ninth week with no end in sight. A second strike by the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, the industry’s largest labor organization, would essentially shut Hollywood down. Should the actors go on strike, they and writers would be together on the picket lines for the first time since 1960. The actors last went on strike for a significant period in 1980, when they were out for three months.

Persons: Fran Drescher, ABC’s, ” Organizations: Hollywood, SAG Locations: Hollywood

☆ Hollywood actors authorize strike as writers still out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, June 5 (Reuters) - Hollywood's actors union voted to authorize a strike if contract talks break down, turning up the heat on major film and television studios already grappling with a monthlong work stoppage by writers. No new negotiations are scheduled with the striking Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents 11,500 film and TV writers. A strike by actors would lead to a broader shutdown across Hollywood and increase pressure on studios that need programming to feed their streaming services and the fall TV broadcast schedule. In the negotiations, actors are seeking higher pay and safeguards against unauthorized use of their images through artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA leaders said the industry had changed dramatically with the rise of streaming television and the emergence of new technology such as generative AI.

Persons: AFTRA, Bravo, Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Lisa Richwine, David Gregorio, Lisa Shumaker, Kim Coghill, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Bravo SAG, Guild of America, Warner Bros, HBO, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Hollywood, Ireland

☆ Actors union vote to authorize July strike, possibly joining writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If the actors do walk out, they would join members of the Writers Guild of America already on picket lines. The DGA tentative deal “doesn’t hurt the leverage or the pursuit of better working conditions for the writers and possibly the actors. : An Industry at War in the Internet Age.” He puts the chance of an actors’ strike at about two to one. Some television shows, particularly late night shows that are written daily in order to be timely, have had their production halted by the writers’ strike. Some shows and films that have had scripts already completed have continued to film since the writers went on strike.

Persons: isn’t, Radio Artists “, ”, Fran Drescher, “ I’m, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, “, Tom Nunan, doesn’t, Jonathan Handel, Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, — American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Companies, Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, Warner Bros ., Guild of America, DGA, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Hollywood actors' union asks members to authorize possible strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, May 18 (Reuters) - The board of Hollywood's actors union asked members on Thursday to give negotiators the power to call a strike, a move that would add new pressure to major studios already facing a writers' strike. The SAG-AFTRA actors union set a June 5 deadline for its 160,000 members to cast ballots in a strike authorization vote. If approved, the measure would allow union leaders to call a work stoppage if they cannot reach a new contract agreement with major Hollywood studios. The writers' strike has disrupted production of late-night shows and some TV series, but some filming is continuing. A strike by actors would lead to a broader shutdown across the industry.

☆ 4 things you didn't know about shooting a Christmas movie in the summer
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Pat Mills is a movie director who's directed his share of made-for-TV Christmas movies. I've directed two made-for-TV Christmas movies — "The Christmas Setup," starring Fran Drescher, which I did in 2020 for Discovery Plus, and "Designing Christmas," starring HGTV host Hilary Farr, which I shot this past spring for Lifetime. When I was offered the first movie, I admittedly I hadn't watched a lot of the Hallmark or Lifetime holiday movies. Here are a few things most people don't realize about how we fake that Christmas feeling when we shoot in the warmer months. Fake snow can be a huge drag on the budget of a made-for-TV movie.

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