"Barbenheimer" is everywhere. The two blockbuster movies -- Barbie and Openheimer -- have become the event of the summer. During their opening weekend, both movies raked in over $235 million, generating incredible profits for major Hollywood production studios. Meanwhile, most actors -- the very people who breathe life into our beloved characters -- are barely scraping by.
This is why SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents around 160,000 individuals in the entertainment industry including actors, recording artists, and other media professionals, has declared a strike after weeks of unfruitful negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Sign this petition now to demand that AMPTP, which represents major film studios like Paramount, Sony, Netflix, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros., respond positively to SAG-AFTRA's demands!
A key issue is the matter of residuals, which are payments made to actors when their work is re-used beyond its initial performance. SAG-AFTRA claims that performers are compensated at significantly lower rates for projects shown on streaming services, with their pay calculated differently, causing their earnings to be ridiculously low. Often, actors will get residual checks for less than 1 dollar. How is that supposed to compensate for anything?
The strike comes at a time when the Writers Guild of America is also on strike, bringing the entertainment industry to a standstill. If the studios don't heed the demands, the consequences will be deeply felt by everyone who loves film and television.
Your favorite shows and movies could be in jeopardy if the major studios continue to undervalue their performers. Sign this petition to demand that the AMPTP and major film studios like Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros. respect the invaluable contributions of performers by agreeing to their demands for fair pay and better working conditions!
