As actors’ strike reaches 100 days, hope mixes with financial anguish By Reuters

By Rollo Ross

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – As the actors’ strike reaches 100 days on Saturday, artists on the picket line offered a mix of concern about financial difficulties and hopes of getting a good deal with studios after talks collapsed.

At the picket line outside Netflix (NASDAQ:) on Friday, striking actors welcomed a proposal by A-list Hollywood actors like George Clooney to donate $150 million to the SAG-AFTRA union over three years to help end the the strike.

“It shows they’re paying attention and it shows we’re having an impact because the A-listers can’t work without the B-listers and C-listers below them supporting the rest of the program,” said Richard Speight, 54.

“I’m very excited that they’re involved, excited that they’re emotionally invested and even willing to commit financially to what’s going on.”

Vincenza Blank, 36, an actor and writer, said the labor solidarity has been impressive but the financial toll has been hard, noting, “I’ve had to do financial things to cover expenses that I normally wouldn’t have to do.” “.

The strike has disrupted film and television production, leaving thousands of production crew members, as well as actors, out of work. Hollywood film and television writers ratified a new three-year contract earlier this month, ending their 148-day work stoppage.

But talks between the studios and the actors’ union collapsed last week when the sides clashed over streaming revenue and the use of artificial intelligence.

Several actors expressed hope that the union will reach the type of agreement that the actors deserve and that it will help them cover the high cost of living in a place like Los Angeles.

“The feeling is that we’re going to stay strong, we’re going to keep going,” Kevin Grossman said, adding, “I certainly don’t feel like we should stop.” If you make it this far, you better keep going.”