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SAG Strike: Gear Up, Fans!
Fasten your seat belts! It's likely to be a bumpy ride!
Once again there's a black cloud looming; this time over the Fall Premiere schedule. Screen Actors' Guild (SAG) who represents television and screen actors and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the studios, have failed to achieve much common ground, setting the stage for a June 30th strike, when their current contract expires.
AMPTP has apparently begun separate negotiations with AFTRA.
The discussions between AFTRA and AMPTP are expected to produce satisfactory results quickly, leaving SAG to haggle independently with AMPTP. It appears many SAG members and leaders believe AFTRA has been riding their shirttails for too long. Perhaps there's a method to this new madness.
We're all aware of the repercussions of a strike for all involved, still struggling with the aftermath of the 100 day drought (WGA strike). Scripted shows, still trying to restore some of their pre-strike strength, will surely suffer the brunt of any extended SAG-sanctioned stoppage.
From what we've read, most SAG members do not favor a strike. Over 40,000 hold dual memberships (for the CYA crossovers), with AFTRA providing the least protection (SAG members refer to AFTRA low-ballers as "Walmarters"). Can SAG hold out and, most important to this question, can SAG recruit their own membership in the upcoming battle?
Are we, as viewers, doomed to the neverland of reality and game shows? As we noted prior to the WGA agreements, the writing has been on the walls for primetime scripted shows for awhile. Will this hasten the eventualities?
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D90GFIVO0.htm
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/05/sag-conglomerat.html
http://dojodabbles.blogspot.com/
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May 8, 2008 2:27 PM
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I guess this means I'm just going to get friendly with my bookcase again...I tell ya, they keep this up and they're going to end up with a ghost town where all their viewers used to be.
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May 8, 2008 3:07 PM
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Barnes & Nobles may have me as a semi-permanent fixture. I've exhausted most of my "must read" stack. Of course, there's always rereads, but that's much like reruns.
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May 8, 2008 3:41 PM
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Can the scripted procedurals survive another strike within a few months? More important, can the peripherals withstand another hit to their bank accounts so soon? An extended strike will further devastate an already depressed economy, especially in SoCal.
I understand SAG members wanting a bigger piece of the mushrooming residual pie; it's only fair. But, fair has never been part of the equation.
While it may seem trite, how will the viewers react? Will they return to the fold when the Big Boys are done bickering? The current numbers don't reflect much of a leverage stance.
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May 9, 2008 10:12 AM
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