Stars go to the streets as contract negotiations with studios fail.
Honking horns, boiling fire, a scattering of celebrities and a lot of rage directed at Disney CEO Bob Iger.
The Hollywood actors’ strike began on a hot Friday morning in Los Angeles, barely over 24 hours after contract discussions with studios broke down.
Several hundred actors joined the ranks of picketing television and film writers who have been hammering the palm tree-lined pavements outside Netflix, Warner and other studios for well over two months.
“Are there no contracts?” There will be no actors! What, no pay? No pages!” chanted organisers from both unions, as they pleaded the strikers to remain hydrated and off the highways, while passing automobiles and lorries blared their horns in solidarity.
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“It’s a fantastic workers’ celebration.” “This is more than a labour strike in the entertainment industry; it’s a labour strike all over the country and the world,” said “Titanic” actor Frances Fisher, 71.
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“Everybody’s standing up,” she told AFP as she walked away from the ancient arched doorway to Paramount Pictures.
The sudden infusion of considerably stronger voices from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) was welcomed by chanting authors, who expressed hope that the entrance of globally recognisable personalities would bring renewed attention to the activities.
Stars such as Allison Janney (“The West Wing”), Mandy Moore (“This is Us”), and Ben Schwartz (“Sonic the Hedgehog”) marched alongside rank-and-file actors on the picket lines.
“It feels historic,” said Zev Frank, 36, a writer for the Amazon Prime show “Patriot.”
“It feels different today to see them show up in such large numbers.” It’s electrifying.”
“We’re in an industry with a lot of people on the front lines, so any extra publicity will help,” said Tien Tran, 36, star of the sitcom “How I Met Your Father.”
