Why Actors Strike Wouldn't Hurt TV

Hollywood doesn't think union will really head for picket lines

(NEWSER) - The Screen Actors Guild’s contract has expired, but Hollywood remains strangely sublime, Variety reports. This isn’t like the writers strike, conventional wisdom has it, because actors don’t support a strike the way the writers did. “People who are working don't want to go out,” said one agent. After the WGA strike “there are too many people who are just desperate to get something going.” More»

Production beefed up before contract's expiration

(NEWSER) - TV and movie studios are scrambling to be as prepared as possible in the event of an actors' strike when the union contract expires Monday, reports the New York Times. Movie studios had long planned to finish projects by the deadline—and TV studios have been rushing productions to finish next season’s episodes early. “We’re incredibly hopeful an agreement will be reached—but we have a contingency plan,” said an NBC executive. More»

Cautious restart means crew members struggle to find work

(NEWSER) - Even though the writers’ strike ended 2 month ago, TV production crew members are still working less than usual and feeling the financial burn, the LA Times reports. The networks took a cautious approach after the strike, putting many shows on hold until next season and ordering fewer episodes of those that returned. Location permits are down 43% from last year. More»

(NEWSER) - The Screen Actors Guild overwhelmingly approved a new contract tonight with the big Hollywood studios, ending an impasse that raised the threat of another strike in the entertainment industry, reports the LA Times. The approval, pushed by a group of top-tier actors such as George Clooney and Tom Hanks, comes a year after the previous contract expired. More»

Union schedules meeting to iron out division

(NEWSER) - Facing dissent in the rank-and-file, the Screen Actors Guild is delaying a member vote to authorize a strike, the Los Angeles Times reports. The union’s board will push back balloting slated to begin January 2 to “address the unfortunate division and restore consensus” at a special meeting January 12, said SAG’s executive director. "This will provide us with more time to conduct member education and outreach on the referendum before the balloting,” Douglas Allen wrote to members. More»