Every Halloween, celebrities like to show off in elaborate costumes, often based on popular TV shows and movies. This year, however, it will look a little different. Dressing up as characters from well-known series and films would violate the rules of the ongoing Hollywood strike.
Therefore, dressing up according to Barbie, Wednesday Addams and movie superheroes is prohibited. According to actors’ unions, wearing such costumes would promote content produced by studios with which the actors are at odds, the BBC reports.
“Choose costumes inspired by generalized characters and figures (ghost, zombie, spider, etc.),” the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) advised its members. Conversely, actors could dress up as characters from content outside of the strike rules. “For example, an animated TV show,” suggested the union.
Ryan Reynolds on Platform X, responded by joking that he’s “looking forward to yelling pickaxe at his eight-year-old son all night. He’s not in the union, but he needs to learn.’
I look forward to screaming “scab” at my 8 year old all night. She’s not in the union but she needs to learn
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) October 19, 2023
The advice from the union comes as the actors’ strike, which prevents union members from doing any work for major US studios, approaches 100 days.
Since its inception, most production has been on hold as the two sides have been unable to agree on demands that include salary increases, a share of streaming revenue and protection from artificial intelligence replicating actors’ images and voices.
The latest talks broke down last week, with the studios saying negotiations are “no longer moving in a positive direction”.
George Clooney led a group of stars who submitted a proposal to unions this week in an attempt to break the impasse. According to the Hollywood Reporter, a meeting between union leaders and Clooney, Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson, Kerry Washington, Tyler Perry, Bradley Cooper, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone and Laura Dern took place on Tuesday .
Clooney and his colleagues proposed that higher-income earners pay more in union dues — which he estimated would bring in $50 million a year. This is supposed to bridge the gap between what the unions want and what the studios are willing to offer.
“This generous concept is worth considering, but it has no relation to and would have no bearing on this current contract, and not even as a subject of collective bargaining. In fact, it is prohibited by federal labor law. For example, our pension and health plans are funded entirely by employer contributions. It also has no effect on the scope of the overall package,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement.
According to them, the strike will last as long as necessary. “For 98 days now, we have stood strong and united for the justice, fairness and value we bring to the industry,” the union said.
