Hollywood Strike: Protests against the studio escalate after contract negotiations fail.
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Horns blaring, sweltering heat, sizzle of stars, and a whole lot of anger at Disney boss Bob Iger.
More than 24 hours after contract talks with the studio failed, the Hollywood actors’ strike began on a sweltering Friday morning in Los Angeles.
Several hundred actors join the ranks of protesting television and film writers who have already been holding palm-lined sidewalks outside Netflix, Warner, Paramount and elsewhere for more than two months .
“No contract? No actor! No salary? No album!” Slogans were raised as organizers from both unions urged strikers to stay hydrated and off the streets as passing cars and trucks honked their horns in support.
“Titanic” star Francis Fisher, 71, said, “It’s a wonderful celebration of workers. It’s more than just a labor strike in the entertainment industry — it’s a strike of workers across the country and around the world.”
“Everyone is standing,” she told AFP as she yards from the historic arched entrance to Paramount Picture Studios.
The chanting writers welcomed the new influx of notably louder voices from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), and hoped that the arrival of globally recognized faces would bring renewed attention to the movements.
Stars including Allison Janney (“The West Wing”), Mandy Moore (“This Is Us”), and Ben Schwartz (“Sonic the Hedgehog”) joined rank-and-file actors on the picket line, while Jason Sudeikis and Susan Sarandon has appeared across the country at protests in New York.
“It feels historic,” said Zev Frank, 36, writer for the Amazon Prime series “Patriot.”
“It feels different today to see them come in such large numbers. It feels like lightning.”
“We’re part of an industry that has a lot of people who are front-facing, so the extra PR would be helpful,” said Tien Tran, 36, star of the sitcom “How I Met Your Father.”
– ‘Disgusting’ –
Among other demands, SAG-AFTRA is seeking pay raises from studios to keep pace with inflation, a greater share of the profits of hit shows or movies.
Disney CEO Bob Iger this week dismissed those proposals as “unrealistic” – comments that drew fury from several strikers interviewed by AFP.
Actress Shawn Richards, who appeared in “Trem” and “Nip/Tuck,” said, “They’re renovating their house for $5 million right now, and these people don’t even have health insurance… It’s outrageous and that’s disgusting.”
“This guy is saying we’re asking for unrealistic things? Are you kidding me?”
Actor EJ Arriola42 agreed, saying, “It was really a prime example of the mentality of the people at the top.”
“As artists, we’ve been at it for so long, and don’t see any kind of respect.”
Many praised SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, whose similar language at a press conference announcing the strike on Thursday went viral.
He was surrounded by fellow actors outside Netflix on Friday, the crowd cheering his comments and taking them in as chants.
Elsewhere, placards from other Hollywood unions representing behind-the-scenes crew and transportation workers were visible among marchers, among hundreds of SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America signs.
“I have no sets to build without actors,” read one slogan.
Both of those guilds would renegotiate their respective contracts with the studio the following year.
“If they need to quit, we’ll be there to support them,” said author Frank.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV Staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)