Matt Damon abruptly leaves a red carpet: Hollywood paralyzed by a rare decision

End clap in Hollywood: after the screenwriters, stopped for more than two months, the American actors launched a strike movement which risks constituting the worst paralysis of the film industry in more than 60 years. The strike began at midnight, Los Angeles time, Friday, July 14, 2023, in accordance with what the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA had after the failure of negotiations with studios and streaming platforms, reports AFP.

“We had no choice. We are the victims. We are victims of a very greedy entity“, castigated Fran Drescher, the president of this organization which represents 160,000 actors and other professionals of the small and big screen.It’s a historic moment“, insisted the ex-star of the series A nanny from hell. “SIf we don’t get up now, (…) we all risk being replaced by machines and big corporations that care more about Wall Street than you and your family.“

By joining the screenwriters on the picket lines, the actors provoke a double social movement never seen since 1960 in Hollywood, which threatens to completely freeze the production of series and films. The two trades are demanding an increase in their remuneration, at half mast in the era of streaming. They also want to obtain guarantees regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI), to prevent the latter from generating scripts or cloning their voice and image.

The entry on strike of the actors will deal a hell of a blow to the industry. Their union”chooses a path that will lead to financial hardship for thousands of people” tackled the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios and streaming platforms. The organization claimed to have offered “historic (…) salary increases” And “a groundbreaking AI proposition that protects the digital image of actors“Disney boss Bob Iger lambasted him for the demands.”unrealistic” actors on the CNBC channel.

Brilliance of the stars of the long-awaited Oppenheimer

Without actors, filming is now impossible in Hollywood, even on the basis of scripts completed before spring, as the Amazon series did until then. Rings of Powerprequel to Lord of the Rings. Only a few talk shows and reality TV shows will continue. The actors are also banned from promotion, even on social media, according to guidelines published by SAG-AFTRA.

What put in difficulty the summer blockbusters, like the highly anticipated Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan. At the film’s London premiere on Thursday, the film’s cast left the event in a show of solidarity, according to variety. In London, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt or even Matt Damon left the preview of Oppenheimer relates the Huffington Post. “The second the strike is officially announced, we’ll be going home“, had also warned the best friend of Ben Affleck.

Comic-Con, the high mass of American geeks and comic book lovers, should also take place without stars from July 20 in San Diego. The absence of American actors is also bad news for major international festivals, such as the Venice Film Festival. Even the Emmy Awards ceremony, the equivalent of the Oscars for television, scheduled for September 18, is threatened. The production is already considering postponing the event to November, or even to 2024, according to the American press.