The Not So Legal Show

Hoping there isn’t an actors’ strike

Posted by: sdc10 on: July 17, 2008

I feel the need to comment on the potential actors’ strike today.  Not so much that I want to discuss and dissect the actual deal points as that is not what I find odd about what is going on.  First of all, I definitely thought that after the writers’ strike that there would be NO CHANCE that there would be an actor’s strike. Considering the affects of the writers’ strike, it just seemed impossible. Absolutely impossible.

I think everyone deserves their royalties, their new media compensation but can’t we just all get along? It’s a cliche I rarely use but I just want the entertainment business to be “business as usual”. Wow, I am really going with the cliches on this one. But, it’s true. As an attorney, I like the fact that I can work with clients and negotiate on their behalf. However, if I was one of the many actors in the guild, I would find it frustrating that I wasn’t right there talking to the people that are making the decisions.

I just hope that everything can be resolved.  It has become such an ego battle between AFTRA and SAG. That is another point that I think is important. When resolving various issues, no matter what the situation, the key is to keep “ego” out of it the best you can. Here is a situation where ego could potential cut the ability for a positive resolution. That is usually how it happens but I am just hoping that the issues can be resolved and the entertainment business can get back to what it needs to be.

1 Response to "Hoping there isn’t an actors’ strike"

1 | Dave

August 2nd, 2008 at 2:17 am

Ah, but for the pall of greed. I’m not so sure this is just about ego. Wars are generally about money.

Sure, people suffered in the WGA strike, but short-term suffering has yielded long-term benefit.

SAG Actors got so totally screwed in the negotiations about their Cable residual rights, it’s a miracle they haven’t had a strike already.

Ergo, I think the idea that this is about ‘ego’ is specious. It’s all about the Benjamins.

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