Support the Artists and Actors. Not the Union.

This is a very difficult post to come to, especially given how hopeful a lot of people were at the beginning of the month, thanks to the end of the Writers' Strike and them finally getting their just dues and earnings that they deserve to receive. However, as this month has rolled on, and negotiations have fallen apart, and especially over the last two weeks, bits and pieces of the negotiations have come to light, I have begun to feel more and more angry not just at the studios for leaving the table, but at the Actors' Union for not learning to make compromises and trying to hot potato the blame of what happened to cause the break down.

What finally brought this on, today, to make the statement I have in the title was of a column I read, an opinion piece from the Head of SAG-Aftra and how she is viewing this strike going forward, and fighting for two things most important, which is the just payment of actors for their work in Streaming shows, and the use of AI towards actors and in these shows going forward and how actors can be protected. However, again, as had been reported more than once, while the Studios gave them a low ball and disrespectful offer, SAG seemed to look to the moon and shot for Mars when try to counter the offer, not realizing compromise is the art of every deal. Not everyone is going get what they want, but a deal is there to allow them to continue negotiations WHILE your actors go back to work.

AI is another important part. While I do see its uses and how it can be abused, there are some uses that can be beneficial to the craft and to flat out rule out everything that SAG-AFTRA tried to do in the deal, again, that was reported, feels like they tried to sabotage the deal just so they could continue the blame game and guilt and force the studios back into that room, just the same as the Studios are trying to divide the union and fracture it's beliefs.

My support has always been for the Actors and Artists in this strike. The common individuals we see in the background, or the ones just starting out on their own, getting low and small parts to build their careers and begin to make a life on the screens of people all around the world. These are the people who deserve our support, the people that the Union claims they represent.

If one has a voice, they should speak it to show support.

If one has a complaint, they should not be afraid to let it out into the open.

If one has an audience, they should use that audience for good.

This Strike has reached 100 Days. 100 Days since the Union went on strike for the right reasons and for the right cause, to give the Actors their fair share and just dues, just like the Writers. However, unlike the Writers, it feels like SAG-AFTRA has begun to fall into a Game of Chicken with the Studios, with no end in Sight, trapping innocent people and crushing dreams in the process.

For those who wish to read the Statement from the Head of SAG-AFTRA which lead to me to this decision, Here is the link:

https://deadline.com/2023/10/actors-strike-fran-drescher-100-days-guest-column-1235579809/

I thank you for your time, I thank you for reading this post.

It's time Everyone came together.

It's time, no matter what, that a deal is made.

Compromises will be made to achieve this goal, it may not be what everyone, or even anyone wanted originally, but a deal leads to more negotiations as they work onwards.

It is time a Deal is brokered.