Kevin Bacon joined SAG-AFTRA members protesting in front of Paramount Studios headquarters in New York on Monday (July 17).
Follow here for real-time updates on SAG-AFTRA’s historic strike.
Bacon, 65, is one of the latest A-listers to speak out in support of the actors’ union strike, which was initiated last Friday (July 14) over fair wages and relationships. other mind.
“I think AI is a big deal,” let loose the star said Related press from the picket line.
SAG negotiators are seeking assurances that the work of background actors will not be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).
Listing “transparency” and “base pay” among other key union concerns, Bacon said that while he could personally “negotiate” his contracts, he was opposed “working class, middle class in our union”.
“[They] need these basic terms in their basic contract,” he said.
Bacon joins the likes of George Clooney, who said in a statement to the press: “This is a watershed moment in our industry. The majority of actors and writers have lost their ability to make a living. For our industry to survive, that must change. For the actors, that journey begins now.”
Meanwhile, Jessica Chastain expressed her support on Twitter, writing: “AMPTP has refused to do a fair deal for TV, stage and streaming work. We are not afraid of a war and we will not back down. My union, SAG/AFTRA is currently on strike.”
Other actors with smaller profiles have shared their horror stories from the industry in the midst of strikes.
End destination star Devon Sawa, 44, took to Twitter to allege that he was never paid for his cameo in Final destination 5, while Orange is the new black star Kimiko Glenn stated that the cast members of the show needed two jobs to survive.
Last Thursday (July 13), the negotiating committee of SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 television and film actors, made the decision to officially go on strike along with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) ), who have joined the protest since May.
“Union members should keep their jobs until a fair contract is reached,” SAG Country Executive and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said at a news conference. “They have left us with no other choice.”
The AMPTP said it had come up with an agreement that provides “historical salaries and residual increases, significantly higher limits on pension and health contributions, audition protection, discretionary duration, etc. select a shortened series and a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects the same digital actors as SAG-AFTRA members.” .
The organization added: “A strike is certainly not the outcome we expected as studios cannot function without the performers bringing their TV shows and movies. I come to life”. “Unfortunately, the Union has chosen a path that has led to financial hardship for the countless thousands of people dependent on the industry.”
