As the US actors’ strike, now in its fourth month, shows no resolution, the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has issued Halloween costume guidelines to its 160,000 members, cautioning them against inadvertently breaking strike rules.
The strike’s ongoing impasse comes after failed negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on October 11.
The strike, which has disrupted the entertainment industry, has prompted SAG-AFTRA to take measures to ensure its members do not contravene strike regulations while celebrating Halloween.
The union issued a guide advising actors to select costumes inspired by generalized characters and figures, such as ghosts, zombies, or spiders.
Additionally, members are discouraged from posting photos of outfits inspired by content related to the strike on social media.
While popular Halloween choices like the film character Barbie and TV character Wednesday Addams are expected to be in demand, SAG-AFTRA urges its members to avoid costumes representing characters played by real people.
Instead, they are encouraged to draw inspiration from animated television shows that fall outside SAG-AFTRA’s purview.
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Halloween Costume Warnings Amid US Actors’ Strike
The union’s Halloween directive has drawn attention and garnered mixed reactions, with actor Ryan Reynolds humorously noting his intention to educate his child about the strike and blocks during the holiday.
Negotiations between AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA have hit a roadblock, with the two sides needing help to bridge their differences.
A significant point of contention is SAG-AFTRA’s push for a “viewership bonus,” which AMPTP contends would place an economically unsustainable burden on the industry, costing over $800 million annually.
The strike’s protracted nature and the impasse in negotiations have raised concerns and uncertainties within the entertainment sector.
As both parties remain steadfast in their positions, the future of the strike and its potential impacts continue to hang in the balance.
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Source: The Guardian
