As of Saturday, Oct. 21, SAG-AFTRA has been on strike for 100 days. And with Halloween simply across the nook, the actors’ union has issued pointers on how union members can have fun and gown up in a method that does not promote struck work.
SAG-AFTRA initially posted Halloween-related guidelines on Wednesday, Oct. 18, advising members to “select costumes impressed by generalized characters and figures (ghost, zombie, spider, and so on)” and to not “submit images of costumes impressed by struck content material to social media.” Nonetheless, characters from non-struck movie and TV initiatives, like animated TV exhibits, are nonetheless allowed.
SAG-AFTRA’s Halloween pointers for members.
Credit score: SAG-AFTRA
The foundations had been met with on-line pushback from a number of union members, together with Ryan Reynolds, who tweeted, “I look ahead to screaming ‘scab’ at my 8 yr outdated all evening. She’s not within the union however she must be taught.”
Tweet might have been deleted
On her Instagram Story, Mandy Moore requested, “Is that this a joke? Come on @sagaftra. That is what’s necessary? We’re asking you to barter in good religion on our behalf. So many people throughout each side of this trade have been sacrificing mightily for months. Get again to the desk and get a good deal so everybody can get again to work.”
Former SAG-AFTRA president Melissa Gilbert additionally criticized the rules, posting on Instagram: “THIS is what you guys give you? Actually nobody cares what anybody wears for Halloween. I imply, do you actually suppose this type of childish stuff goes to finish the strike? We appear to be a joke. Please inform me you’re going to make this rule go away… and go negotiate! For the love of God, individuals are struggling mightily and that is what it’s important to say… c’mon guys…”
SAG-AFTRA responded to the backlash on Friday, Oct. 20, clarifying that the rule was by no means meant for anybody’s kids, and that it was particularly put in place to deal with issues from union members and content material creators about methods to assist the strike over Halloween.
In a press release, SAG-AFTRA stated: “SAG-AFTRA issued Halloween steering in response to questions from content material creators and members about methods to assist the strike throughout this festive season. This was meant to assist them keep away from selling struck work, and it’s the newest in a collection of pointers we have now issued. It doesn’t apply to anybody’s children. We’re on strike for necessary causes, and have been for practically 100 days. Our primary precedence stays getting the studios again to the negotiating desk so we are able to get a good deal for our members, and at last put our trade again to work.”
Notably, these Halloween pointers (and the backlash) come throughout a time when SAG-AFTRA continues to be very a lot making an attempt to barter with the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers (AMPTP). Nonetheless, the newest spherical of talks broke down on Oct. 12, when SAG-AFTRA introduced that “trade CEOs have walked away from the bargaining desk after refusing to counter our newest provide,” which addressed issues like synthetic intelligence and streaming income share. After 148 days on strike, the WGA had been in a position to attain a cope with the AMPTP involving comparable points, setting the bar for the continued SAG-AFTRA negotiations.
So what do these Halloween pointers and continued negotiations imply in your personal costume this yr? Nicely, should you’re not in SAG-AFTRA or a content material creator who’s been particularly requested to not promote struck work, not a lot. Until these on strike particularly ask the general public to not gown like characters from struck movie and TV, you’ll be able to nonetheless gown up as widespread figures like Barbie or Wednesday.
You’ll be able to present solidarity for placing actors in different methods. Halloween-wise, you’ll be able to select to comply with SAG-AFTRA’s recommendation of not posting photos of stated costumes on social media. Elsewhere, you’ll be able to share your assist on-line (take a look at SAG-AFTRA’s social toolkit), be a part of a picket line as a supporter, or donate to the Leisure Neighborhood Fund.
Bear in mind: This Halloween, there’s nothing scarier than an unfair contract.