About That Meeting to Talk About Meeting...
➕ Actors shut down Lankershim Blvd. — and the exclusive worldwide debut of a new strike-themed anthem!
Before I get into it, make sure you continue scrolling below to the exclusive worldwide debut of a very clever strike anthem from some of your Hollywood union colleagues.
So today…
All I can tell you for certain is: The meeting about meeting began, and the meeting about meeting ended.
I know, what an unsatisfying update. I wish I had more. But it’s radio silence from official WGA spox and “no comment” from the AMPTP, and even chatter on the fringes is mighty quiet today. (Variety reporter Gene Maddaus staked out the AMPTP building in Sherman Oaks, tweeting around 2 p.m. PT today that he saw WGA chief negotiator Ellen Stutzman and general counsel Tony Segall emerge from AMPTP HQ after around an hour.
Highly unlikely that both parties emerged from their meeting this afternoon with a new three-year contract in hand, but maybe they at least settled on whether they’ll meet again. Know something? Talk to me: elaine@theankler.com.
While the writers’ negotiating committee convened in Sherman Oaks, the actors were out in full force in Universal City — felt like everyone was in the Valley today — on SAG-AFTRA’s first official picket outside Universal Studios since Sidewalk-gate and Tree-gate edged closer to a resolution and restored some picketable sidewalk to the strikers. (The WGA has been picketing at Universal since the start of their work stoppage in May.)
The performers union ultimately shut down Lankershim Blvd, as SAG-AFTRA lead negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland marched alongside thousands of actors and their allies. SAG deliberately nixed their usual pickets at Disney and Warner Bros. in an effort to divert strike traffic to Universal, which has been one of the quieter pickets all summer long. Compared to the usual handfuls of picketers at this location, today was a whopper.
Here’s a peek at the scene a little after 11 a.m. this morning, which wasn’t even the peak of activity — watch to the end and you’ll see the street takeover turn into an impromptu dance-off. Actors, man.
Here are a few other pictures from the picket at Universal:
Laborers from LiUNA! Local 724 came out to support, high-fiving SAG members as they passed.
Around 11:30 a.m., about a dozen law enforcement vehicles pulled up and blocked off Lankershim, ultimately capping the picket a little earlier than expected.
The Strike Anthem You Needed
Taylor Swift may be playing SoFi Stadium in Inglewood tonight, but only at Strikegeist do we have the exclusive release of brand-new, never-before-heard strike music. “All We Want: Strike Anthem” is the highly entertaining brainchild of David Nickoll, Avery Pearson, Jordan Baum and Amy Browne — a real work of cross-union solidarity, repping the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and the DGA between the four of them.
“All We Want: Strike Anthem”
Lyrics by David Nickoll (WGA/DGA/SAG-AFTRA), Avery Pearson (SAG) and Jordan Baum. Music and performance by Avery Pearson and Jordan Baum. Edited by Amy Browne (IATSE).
Today in Strike News
Food banks and other charities in Hollywood are reporting surging rates of people in need due to the effects of the strike. “Before this started, we would do about 50 grants out of the L.A. office a week. Now we’re getting 50 applications a day,” says Entertainment Community Fund executive director Keith McNutt. (The Hollywood Reporter)
One of SAG-AFTRA’s key sticking points in the negotiations is the use of AI to replace performers. But digitally-created actors are already being utilized in a major way, whether in the Star Wars universe or in Ted Lasso. (New York Times)
A recent Los Angeles Times poll showed a stark contrast between the opinions of Biden and Trump voters on the strike, with 25 percent of Biden voters viewing actors as privileged and 55 percent of Trump voters viewing actors as such. (Los Angeles Times)
The Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity held a picket on the Disney lot last Friday in an effort to raise awareness about how aspects of the negotiations specifically affect writers who hail from historically excluded backgrounds. (The Hollywood Reporter)
On the company’s Q2 earnings call today, AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan quelled fears over the strike’s impact, claiming that the production stoppage won’t affect their programming until “well into 2024.” (Deadline)
Recent comments from Shazam! star Zachary Levi — in which he called the rules surrounding what he can and can’t talk about as “so dumb” — received immediate backlash, causing him to clarify his stance. “It’s come to my attention that an offhand remark I made in jest last weekend is being taken out of context,” Levi said in a statement. “So let me be very clear. I fully support my union, the WGA, and the strike.” (Deadline)
The Blues Brothers, Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s musical comedy duo based on the eponymous film and SNL sketch, canceled two of its fundraiser performances, as well as the second edition of Blues Brothers Con, which was set to occur in Joplin, Ill. (ABC7 Chicago)
SAG-AFTRA picketed today in the Blues Brothers’ home city of Chicago, marching along Daley Plaza with negotiating committee member Sean Astin. “We have no choice but to win. We are facing an existential threat to what it means to be a working performer,” Astin said at the rally. (CBS News Chicago)
Picket Scene of the Day
The Universal picket-turned-street takeover-turned dance-off.
Additional reporting by Matthew Frank.
Disclosure: Elaine Low is an inactive SAG-AFTRA member.