The Screen Actors Guild is at it again, but it’s doubtful that the guild’s members need so much extra money that they’d take out payday loans. The current strike proposed is another installment of the ongoing saga of people who work in the entertainment industry being perturbed over the royalties due from their work. The SAG has been trying to work out a better deal with the union for the producers of film and television shows (The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP) for a better share of the royalties in any work that gets sold via DVD or VHS. The groups are also debating syndication rights of TV shows. However, this current trouble that’s been brewing has been over royalty rights for TV shows or films sold via the Internet. In other words, from sites that charge for movie downloads, such as Netflix, the actors want a piece of the money.
Many of the SAG’s A-list members are saying NO
So far, some of the more high profile members of the SAG (the actors) haven’t been very receptive to the idea of striking. The impact of a strike would send SAG members who work as extras running for payday loans. Over the winter of 2007 and into the spring of 2008, Hollywood and the major networks were crippled by a writers’ strike that lasted for months, which caused the demise of several TV shows. It also held up production on established powerhouses, such as Entourage and House, for months. That strike was over royalties due to the writers on DVD and digital sales as well. This current strike has been brewing for months, and the issue has finally come down to a vote on whether or not to strike in the midst of a recession.
Such powerhouse actors as Tom Hanks and George Clooney are voting against the strike. They say an SAG strike during the current economic climate would be irresponsible. Actors delivered a letter to that effect to the SAG leadership, with dozens of signatures declaring their dissent. The letter urged SAG leadership to continue negotiations and said that a strike would not be beneficial in any way. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Oscar season is in full swing right now, and 
entries and voting are due to begin within the next month.
This is not the time for rich people to get greedy
This is not the time, many SAG members say, for any group to go on strike, and it is commendable that they recognize it. Not every actor-member of the SAG can afford to take a month or two off, even to protest an injustice. The majority of Americans couldn’t even take more than a week off for political protest without being fired. And they definitely couldn’t qualify for any kind of short term financial assistance– such as payday loans – for sudden expenses.
great pictures
Interesting