Emma Bodnar '25
The SAG-AFTRA strike—which began July 14, 2023—has ended after months of protest. SAG-AFTRA, a labor union for the entertainment industry, signed a tentative agreement with AMPTP (the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) saying the strike would officially end on November 9.
When the strike began, I didn’t fully grasp why actors, actresses, and other SAG-AFTRA members were protesting—either because I couldn’t find the energy to research it or because I didn’t care enough to understand the significance. If you are in the same position that I was four months ago, then perhaps you are wondering something similar—and now that the strike is over, the full story can be told.
The first thing I didn’t understand was the reason for protest—I knew many artists were protecting their replacement by artificial intelligence, so I assumed the two must be related. That isn’t completely incorrect—actors and actresses protested not only for contracts that included the prevention of being replaced by artificial intelligence, but also for better pay and better working conditions.
Many actors are forced to work long, irregular hours that put immense pressure on them, seriously affecting their mental and physical health. Although they are popular, many actors are severely underpaid—Robert Pattinson, known for his infamous performance as Edward in the Twilight saga and Batman in the newest installment of the franchise, admitted to using an inflatable boat as a couch, bed, and table for six months.
Productions of shows and movies were halted and postponed until the strike ended—but no one knew when it would come.
The end of the strike not only means that actors and actresses will be getting better contracts that include better pay and better working conditions, but that production will resume of popular shows like Stranger Things and The Witcher.
The actor’s strike came after the WGA’s writer’s strike went on for five months, shutting down various productions as well—but has since been resolved. The strike has shown the success of extensive protesting and has proven that in order to make a change, one must not be afraid to advocate for it.
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