The actors and writers strikes have resulted in most Hollywood film and television productions being shut down, from the 鈥淕ladiator鈥 sequel to the live action 鈥淟ilo & Stitch.鈥 But some independent films and television productions are are still filming after reaching agreements with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists that will allow them to continue with union actors amid the strike.
It's a move that the union leadership says is an essential negotiating tactic, but that鈥檚 also proved divisive and confusing to many sweating it out on the picket lines while movie stars like Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey continue to work.
Here鈥檚 what to know about the 鈥渋nterim agreements鈥 that are keeping some Hollywood productions filming.
WHAT FALLS UNDER THE INTERIM AGREEMENTS?
Actors are striking against studios and streaming services that bargain as the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The group's ranks include the major film studios (Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros.), television networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) and streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon.
There are numerous independent production companies that aren't affiliated with the AMPTP, and they are allowed to film with SAG-AFTRA actors during the strike. They must agree to terms that the union last proposed during negotiations, which includes a new minimum wage rate that's 11% higher than before, guarantees about revenue sharing and artificial intelligence protections.
Those terms were rejected by the studios and streaming services, but SAG-AFTRA realized that some independent producers and smaller film studios (like Neon and A24) were willing to agree to the terms if it meant they could keep filming.
鈥淭he interim agreement provides empirical proof that the terms that we have put on the table with the AMPTP are not only realistic, but are actually desirable and usable by producers in this industry,鈥 SAG-AFTRA executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said.
WHAT ABOUT THE WRITERS?
The Writers' Guild of America has opted not to grant similar agreements in their own strike. In an attempt to show solidarity and sync strategy, SAG-AFTRA changed course Monday and said interim agreements would not be granted to productions that were covered by the WGA contract.
WGA films and shows include about 15 to 20% of the productions granted the agreements before the switch, and those will not be revoked, but no new ones will be granted.
鈥淲e have been advised by the WGA that this modification will assist them in executing their strike strategy, and we believe it does not undermine the utility and effectiveness of ours,鈥 Crabtree-Ireland said. 鈥淚t is a win-win change.鈥
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRODUCTIONS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE?
More than 200 productions have been approved so far, including a Rebel Wilson comedy 鈥淏ride Hard,鈥 an untitled Guy Ritchie project, a film with Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd called 鈥淒eath of a Unicorn,鈥 the Matthew McConaughey thriller 鈥淭he Rivals of the Amziah King鈥 and David Lowery鈥檚 pop star movie 鈥淢other Mary,鈥 starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel.
The list is being constantly updated on SAG-AFTRA鈥檚 website, but even some productions that have been granted exceptions are still pausing for optics and solidarity. Viola Davis decided to step away from her film 鈥淕20,鈥 in which she plays the U.S. president at a G20 Summit overtaken by terrorists, despite it being granted a waiver.
鈥淚 love this movie but I do not feel that it would be appropriate for this production to move forward during the strike,鈥 Davis said in a statement. 鈥淕20鈥 though independently financed, was set to be distributed by Amazon Studios, which is an AMPTP member.
WHAT IS SAG-AFTRA鈥橲 STRATEGY?
Crabtree-Ireland said there are several benefits of the interim agreement to SAG-AFTRA members.
鈥淚t provides absolute empirical proof that the terms that we are seeking in the negotiation are reasonable,鈥 he told The Associated Press in an interview. 鈥淲e have hundreds of independent producers who say we鈥檒l be happy to produce under those terms.鈥
It also provides opportunities for crews and actors to work, relieving some of the financial pressures of the strike. And, he added, it might be getting the attention of studios.
Emmy-winning 鈥淎bbott Elementary鈥 actor Sheryl Lee Ralph agrees with the strategy.
鈥淚 have to honestly say interim agreements are smart agreements. What that does is keep little conversations going with producers who are not the big major producers,鈥 she . 鈥淪o now the big folks can look and say, 鈥榃ell, wait a minute, if they can do it, why aren鈥檛 we doing it.鈥欌
WHY IS IT CONTROVERSIAL?
To some members sweating it out on the picket lines and pinching pennies, it doesn鈥檛 feel like a united work stoppage when major celebrities like Hathaway and McConaughey get to still make movies.
Comedian Sarah Silverman was one who was especially irked about the loophole and posted her thoughts in an Instagram video. After meeting with SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher and Crabtree-Ireland, she walked back her outrage and said both sides better understood the waivers could be a positive and a negative.
鈥淚 do understand that some members feel like it creates a confusing message or that it makes it not as clear of a line,鈥 Crabtree-Ireland conceded. But he added that 鈥渨e鈥檙e all very clear on the fact that AMPTP companies are the companies we鈥檙e on strike against.鈥
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN AMPTP COMPANY BUYS THE FILM FOR DISTRIBUTION?
Some of the productions from smaller studios, like A24 and Neon, have their own distribution arms that can get films out into the world. But others don鈥檛. They often sell to AMPTP companies who ultimately put them into theaters or on their streaming services. 鈥淕20鈥 is a prime example of this, having already had a deal in place with Amazon to distribute.
Crabtree-Ireland said it鈥檚 鈥渁 concern鈥 but also a 鈥渞eality we accept as a possibility鈥 that one of these independent films will sell to, say, Netflix. He sees a possible upside if this happens though, as the interim agreement includes a streaming revenue share proposal.
And he said that any company that acquires an interim-agreement film at the upcoming slate of fall festivals like Venice, Telluride and Toronto 鈥 key places where an AMPTP studio might acquire such a project 鈥 will have to pay performers the the contract requires.
WHAT ABOUT ACTORS PROMOTING COMPLETED PROJECTS?
SAG-AFTRA is reviewing applications that would allow talent to promote independent films at the fall festivals, which are going forward with many high-profile world premieres regardless of actor availability.
Luc Besson鈥檚 鈥淒ogMan,鈥 debuting at Venice, was recently granted an interim agreement allowing its stars, like Caleb Landry Jones, to help promote the film through red carpet appearances and interviews. Other include Sofia Coppola鈥檚 鈥淧riscilla,鈥 with Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, Michael Mann鈥檚 鈥淔errari,鈥 with Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz, Ava DuVernay鈥檚 鈥淥rigin,鈥 Michel Franco鈥檚 鈥淢emory,鈥 with Jessica Chastain and Richard Linklater鈥檚 鈥淗it Man,鈥 with Glen Powell, all of which could, theoretically be granted the special status.
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Leslie Ambriz contributed from Los Angeles.
