Big if true: SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP are said to be mulling over an extension of negotiations, taking them past the current June 30 expiration and to July 7 or thereabouts, reported Deadline late yesterday evening. (SAG did not respond to a request for comment.)
That would make a great deal of sense, considering the upcoming July 4th holiday. It gives both parties time to possibly hammer out a deal — and helps to better position a strike against the backdrop of the post-holiday studio crowd if a deal can’t be made (read: picketing outside empty studio corner offices only has so much value).
If talk deadlines are nudged further afield, that likely makes for a quiet holiday week all around. The writers strike will enter Week 10 with two days off (no pickets are scheduled for July 3 and July 4) before getting back to it on Wednesday, July 5.
WGA organizers have also shortened strike shifts (as some studio employees leaving work may have noticed): starting this past Monday, pickets are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.
In production news, there are only currently two scripted TV series with permits to film this week, according to FilmLA, the county’s official resource on production permits, which notes that that’s in contrast to the dozens of TV projects that would normally be in production.
Feature film and TV project permit counts have sunk 72 percent to 122 this year, down from 435 in 2022, and that figure includes reality projects and non-union independent films (both unaffected by the current WGA strike).
As you may have noticed, Strikegeist is now publishing Monday through Thursday, with one weekend catch-up edition. In the coming weeks, we’ll have some in-depth interviews with studio execs, writers and actors as the WG strike continues and as the results of the talks between SAG-AFTRA and the studios reveal themselves.
Anything you think I should know? Talk to me: elaine@theankler.com.
Today in Strike News
More and more striking writers are returning to stand-up comedy as a means of supporting themselves and keeping their creative juices fresh, including late-night scribes as well as big names like Quinta Brunson, Jason Segel and Seth Rogen. (The Hollywood Reporter)
After over 300 actors signed a letter to SAG-AFTRA leadership saying they were “prepared to strike” if a fully satisfactory deal wasn’t made, over 1,000 actors are now signatories on the message, including guild president Fran Drescher. (Deadline)
Season 4 of the hit Amazon series The Boys won’t drop on the streamer until after the strike comes to a close, according to series creator Eric Kripke. (Collider)
In Chicago tonight, performers are attempting to raise money for production crews out of work through a comedy music variety show. “This is for the people who really make film and TV happen day in and day out, and who have supported this strike from the very beginning,” said the show’s host, Katie Rich. (Axios)
The International Cinematographers Guild has formed a hardship fund of $250,000, which could be raised to $500,000, to give grants of $1,000 to members undergoing financial hardship because of the strike. (Deadline)
While plowing through spicy chicken wings on Hot Ones, John Mulaney shared his thoughts on what the strike might mean for viewers — and why it might actually not be that big of a deal: “Now if I were to be a touch cynical, there’s a lot of content already out there,” the comedian said. “I feel like we’ve all been saying that for years like ‘God there’s so many shows. There’s so many shows.’ There’s so many shows, and now we’ll see how many there are.” (The Wrap)
Picket Sign of the Day
Seen outside Netflix HQ on Sunset Boulevard earlier today.
Additional reporting by Matthew Frank.