"Turn your TV off and turn off your phone for one month." See how you feel. "You don't have to watch any films for a whole month. You can't watch TV or watch anything online.

The Hollywood Strike is centered on fair pay. Both the writers and actors unions are boycotting major studios.

TooFab visited the picket line outside the Culver Studio in Culver, California and heard this sentiment from many people.

Ana Rey, a picketing actress, said: "I've been streaming and have a friend that had a global hit as a streamer. I'm going back to my regular job because I don't earn enough money being an actor."

She continued, "We have to be ahead of the curve when it is AI and set up rules. It's inevitable. But we also need to ensure that we are protected in our careers."

John Starr, an actor who has been working since the 1970s, also said that the residual checks he receives today are not very lucrative.

"I joined SAG almost 50 years ago, in 1975. Starr explained that there are classic sitcoms from the 1970s where she received residuals of less than a dollar. "50 years and those shows have never been taken off the air."

Nicole Ketchem is also an actor and notes that "in iconic roles" you get paid, but she adds, "in something Ana has been in in the last few years, she gets less than if it was something from 15 years ago."

Jessica Randle added, "Everything's going to Hulu so damn fast." "I mean even Mandy Moore talked about it. That huge, huge show which was so recent was not getting anything on Hulu."

Starr also pointed out that the structure of episodic television has changed due to streaming.

"A streaming series has 10 episodes." We would get 22 episodes in one year when I worked on All in the Family. Starr explained that a show would run for five years on a particular network and each episode was 22 episodes.

He continued, "You could have a hit series on HBO Max or Amazon that is doing 10 episodes in 3 years.

Randle added, "The formats have changed and we must change with them."

Ketchem also stressed that this is not just a "gig job" but the livelihood of actors.

We are trained to do this. "Just like in any profession, it can take 8-10 years before you finally get a job," she said.

Rey added, "We have all received theater degrees." "We didn't just stumble into it."

The group noted that many actors, despite all their hard work, have "a full-time job." They also mentioned that Rey, "a semi-regular in two shows currently airing," still has a job.

Randle said, "We're working our tails off for this job." "We've been working hard for years but having a side gig is essential."

The group sent out one final message to those who were still uncertain about the strike.

Starr said, "I would like to say something to everyone who doesn't get the strike." Turn off your phone and TV for a month. "Let's see what you feel."

Starr continued, "You won't be able to watch movies, TV or anything online for a whole month." "Stop telling me to stop."

You know who gets paid? Ketchem added. The people in Oppenheimerand Barbiemovies. "Those people get paid."

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Title: 'Stop Telling Us To Stop': Actors On The Picket Lines Explain What Strike Really Means (Exclusive)
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/08/16/actors-on-the-picket-lines-explain-what-strike-really-means/
Published Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 22:44:52 +0000

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