The Strike of the Actors

Greetings & Salutations!

First, thank you for all of your emails, comments and thoughts about my last week's review (No-so-much) of The Incredible Hulk.

Quite frankly, I am more than confident that with a sequel looming, I will be writing and you will be laughing for at least a few more years and many prequels to come, just wait.

Well, amidst all of the fun and games, this week we are quite possibly on the verge of a SAG (Screen Actors Guild) strike -over relatively the same issue that we experienced in January with the WGA (Writers Guild of America).

Tinseltown Rewind
Remember the statement: If you do not learn from the mistakes of the past, you are doomed to repeat them?

Alas, if you may recall the WGA strike lasted some 4 months and cost the industry well over $2 Billion in lost production, advertising revenue, and left thousands out of work or unpaid for a number of months - a very disappointing circumstance.

Just as their predecessors, the Actors are as well hoping to focus on new media pay scales, DVD residuals and a bigger say over product placement

So, here we are a few months after a brief recovery period and the possibility exists that union representatives may call for a strike. Although at the time of this writing, union reps have stated there are not plans for a work stoppage - For this is of cautious moderate comfort to some.

The Power Players
In this episode of strike, there are actually several parties involved (SAG, rival union American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (aka AFTRA), and the Studios).

If this is not confusing for you, again wait...

Apparently, AFTRA had reached a separate agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) weeks ago, which has ignited disagreements between the two main unions SAG and AFTRA.

Even better, each team has its' own high-powered players: AFTRA has Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, and Susan Sarandon. While the other team has Jack Nicholson, Viggo Mortenson, and Holly Hunter. Meanwhile, George Clooney 'Plays for the wrong team'.

Surely you would agree this has all of the makings of a real-life reality show, complete with dramatics, villains, numerous hoops in which to jump through, and eliminations.

A Cloud In Every Silver Lining
We were discussing earlier, what exactly the implications of an Actors strike would really mean and although the financial and econmic impact would be once again devastating, we need to remain with a more positive focus.

After all, we are in the summer viewing season (Typically, ratings are usually lower during this time of the year), which means re-broadcasting of programs. If said strike were to begin, we would have a least 3 months of re-run inventory to clear - thus, buying time in the negotiation process (If needed).

The fact is once again revealed, that new media is the definitive cause to re-visit many of the traditional models of the past.

Hollywood in general is a business that has been built on centralized resources, familiar talent and epic tradition, for this too shall pass with inevitiable technological convergence - co-existing models of media distribution will no longer be possible.

Ah, if you wish to hear more of my doctrine of digital convergence...There will indeed be more on this subject later...

Insert Happy Ending Here
Although I am not an Actor, I do have a number of friends of which whom are Actors. However as a Writer, I can speak of fresh account of the debacle a few months prior.

Conversely, the prospect of striking Actors has been looming since April of this year and the possibilty of an interruption appeared nearly avoidable. My, how just a few months have escaped to what is now the brink of tumult.

Many at the studios and networks are quite relaxed and calm (Including Yours Truly) about the prospect of a possible 'Actor Snag'.

According to the AMPTP, should the night result in strike, it is speculated that a possible work stoppage could cost upwards of $2.5 Billion in lost wages and render over 30,000 without work.

SAG and AFTRA's contracts are set to expire at 12:01 a.m. tonight/ Tuesday morning and really the question remains: Will we see another walkout of talent in the coming weeks or can we resolve this matter quickly and easily without incident?

Let's hope for the best - Stay tuned!


*The above is a PhotoShop image of the Hollywood sign is provided by ABC News.