The entertainment industry is now in the midst of a double strike, which hasn’t happened in over 60 years. The Director’s Guild of America elected to ratify their deal with the AMPTP in June, avoiding a strike but certainly making them look clownish as they no longer have scripts or performers to direct until both strikes come to an end. Hope that “truly historic deal” was worth it and that you’re excited to call “action” to AI holograms speaking lines written by ChatGPT, y’all! To be clear, my barbs are pointed at the leadership who buckled into accepting a deal, not the DGA as a whole, many of whom are in solidarity with both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
“Oppenheimer” is just the first of many film premieres that will be impacted by the strike. Just before the screening of the film in London, director Christopher Nolan addressed the crowd by acknowledging the hard work of the actors and respecting their choice not to attend the rest of the premiere. “They’re off to go and write their picket signs,” Nolan explained to the audience, who all cheered in solidarity with the actors’ decision to leave.
Shortly after their exit, SAG-AFTRA held a press conference to announce the strike, which goes into effect one minute past midnight. I hope the studios are ready. If they thought the WGA picketers were disruptive, they’re in for a rude awakening when thousands of former theater kids are unleashed outside their gates.