SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said the actors’ union was ready for a long strike.

Although the timing of the strike is unknown, Drescher says they are aiming for a long game.

“Right now, we’re discussing the cost if it lasts for six months, so we’re looking for the long haul,” Drescher said. “The weight of a commitment like this doesn’t affect any of us. That is the main specialty. But we also find that we have no future and no livelihood unless we take this action, unfortunately.”

The last time the WGA went on strike was in 2007.

Back then, writers went on strike to demand higher pay that reflected the profits larger studios made from their work.

The strike began on 5 November 2007 and lasted exactly 100 days when an agreement was reached on an improved MBA program.

This strike saw all 12,000 WGA film and television screenwriters leave during this time, protesting and demanding a better deal.

Hollywood’s largest union, SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 film and television actors, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are demanding an increase in base pay and residuals in the television era. online with the guarantee that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence.

John Cusack is one of a number of Hollywood stars to speak out about paying actors unfairly when the performers’ union goes on strike.

In a retweeted video of Sag-Aftra chairman Fran Drescher speaking out against the “disgusting” greed of film and television bosses, High Definition the star told an anecdote regarding the 1989 hit teen melodrama Say anythingin which his character attracts a lover by holding a boombox overhead at her bedroom window.

“Greed is almost a comic book legend,” he began his post. “Fun fact – when I was young – I made a movie (with a boom box) and somehow I hit the mark – with no net sales.

“Never expected to make a dime but the movie has become quite popular – so about 10 years ago I was going through the financial statements they were required to report – and I was blown away. fever, they announced that they had LOST $44 million on the movie.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger has been criticized for saying the writers and actors were not “realistic” with their strike expectations and calling the prospect of a strike “disturbing”.

During an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Thursday morning (July 13), hours before the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra) began a strike. , Iger said the actors and writers union’s decision to strike was “very disturbing to me”.

“We’ve talked about the disruptive forces on this business and all the challenges we’re facing, the post-Covid recovery is still going, it’s not quite back yet,” he said. return.

“This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption.”

The popular event in San Diego will begin next Thursday, but SAG-AFTRA specifically has banned its members from promoting at fan conventions and exhibitions, according to Diversity.

Hollywood actors and screenwriters are on strike for the first time since 1960 to protest several decisions by major studios that include not only job cuts but also a potentially uncertain future in which they can be replaced by artificial intelligence.

Leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the Hollywood union representing 160,000 TV and film actors, went on strike on Thursday, joining industry screenwriters who have made their picks in more than 70 days.

Among the many issues raised by both writers and actors during the demonstrations was how innovative AI tools could replace their role in the industry.

“Now that I’m also striking as an actor, all my standing moves will have a purpose and my featured character will have a secret,” Guy Branum wrote on Twitter on Thursday. Year.

David Simon, host of The Wire, re-quoted Branum’s first tweet and added: “Now that the actors are impressing me, we’ll tackle my rage and entertain with plays of a subtle obscenity.”