The Big Bang Theory actors strike News

SAG rift might avert strike

admin@the-big-bang-theory.com (The Big Bang Theory) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0500

The Screen Actors Guild is suffering an internal rift that might avert a costly actors' strike. The union's New York board publicly came out against striking, causing the union to call an emergency national meeting. The union will vote on whether to strike over demands for greater profits for actors from new media distribution of their work.

The prospect of a strike has highlighted differences within the SAG union and the entertainment industry as a whole. Many actors think that during a recession is not the right time to stage a strike that would halt the production of movies and many TV shows.

Many actors have spoken out against a strike include Danny DeVito (Taxi), Rhea Perlman (Cheers), Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H), and former SAG president Richard Masur.

The alternative actors' union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has already accepted a new contract for its members. The producers' union, Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, is understandably against the strike and is appealing to actors to vote against the strike.

With so much public opposition to a strike, along with many who oppose it privately, it could be that the SAG would lose the vote on the strike, but it is cautioned that the SAG would not be pushing for a vote if it did not believe it would win it.

The strike would deal a swift blow to the entertainment industry that suffered a lengthy and costly strike last year, the estimated cost of the 3 month strike is put as high as $2.5 billion. The Writers' Strike damaged many TV shows by pulling them off air for months, the Strike was blamed for the death of many shows such as Bionic Woman or Pushing Daisies.

Any strike would be devastating for the economy of California, already suffering because of the general economic climate.

The SAG will send out ballots on January 2nd, votes will be counted by January 23rd.

Actors to strike?

admin@the-big-bang-theory.com (The Big Bang Theory) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:47:30 -0500

Hollywood is on the brink of another costly strike as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is to send out strike ballot papers to members next month. A strike could come as early as January, halting TV & Movie production and signing the death certificate of some TV shows.

Lengthy talks to avert a strike ended with nothing earlier this week, despite the fact that federal negotiators were trying to broker the deal to prevent an economically disastrous strike.

DVD residuals are once again at the center of the battle, actors are calling for a greater income from sales of DVDs but production companies are unsurprisingly against this. Actors also want a greater share of "new media" profits, like when their work is played on sites like Hulu.com or bought from iTunes or Amazon Unbox.

The producers union, the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, says the current economic situation, and the fact that the Internet is very much new & untested ground, means that they can't give a greater share of the earnings.

The actors' contract expired June 30th this year, and Hollywood has been living borrowed time since then as a second costly strike looked ever more likely.

The consequences of a strike would be huge. Production of TV shows & movies would grind to a halt, devastating the already fragile economy of California, and struggling shows could find themselves not returning from a strike. Last year's strike is regarded by many as the reason shows such as Bionic Woman were cancelled despite mild popularity. More popular shows like The Big Bang Theory would most likely be secure from cancellation, but the strike could still dent viewing figures and would mean another season with a smaller number of episodes.

Around 12 episodes of The Big Bang Theory are in the can right now, with two of those set to air before Christmas. If production was halted in January, it would go off air quite quickly.

We'll be following the situation and keeping you informed.

1 Hollywood Union votes against strike

admin@the-big-bang-theory.com (The Big Bang Theory) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:59:01 -0400

A Hollywood Union has voted against strike action regarding the unsettled actors contract. The Union, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), is the smaller of the two Hollywood actors unions, the larger Screen Actors Guild is still in negotiations with TV & Movie producers about a new actors contract.

The SAG is still negotiating and it looks unlikely they would be able to muster up enough support to call a strike. So for now, TV & Movie production is safe.

Television production under threat

admin@the-big-bang-theory.com (The Big Bang Theory) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:23:06 -0400

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) today warned that television production is under threat after the start of a "de facto" strike by actors.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is demanding more money for actors from Internet download and DVDs of their work. The existing actors contract expired at midnight today, with movie production already said to be at a standstill.

Production of TV shows such as The Big Bang Theory is likely to continue, but could be affected in the event of a full blown official strike.

Actors to strike?

admin@the-big-bang-theory.com (The Big Bang Theory) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:08:46 -0400

One strike in a year is bad luck, but two? A scary prospect which will put fear in the heart of studio execs. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP), look like they will not reach agreement on a pay-deal before the deadline next Tuesday.

A strike would disrupt production of movies & television shows, such as The Big Bang Theory. The previous season was heavily interrupted by the Writers' Strike.

The Independent of London has the full story.