What To Know About the Actors Strike & How It Affects British TV
On July 14, 2023, seventy-four days into the WGA strike, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the picket line. The original contract between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired on Friday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m., but a two-week extension took the deadline to July 12, and a public vote by the SAG board on July 13 pushed the joint strike to begin at the end of the week. However, with talks at a dead standstill and acrimonious feelings on both sides, it seems like the joint strike will shut down Hollywood for the rest of the summer.
For those curious about the issues at play, we have a bullet point rundown below, but the real question for Anglophiles is how it will affect our beloved British shows. With the writers’ strike, WGGB (Writers Guild of Great Britain) was immediately vocal about its full support, and members who cross over to the WGA have refused to work on any shows that fall under that jurisdiction. Equity U.K., the British SAG-AFTRA equivalent, has been equally vocal in its support.
"Equity U.K. stands in unwavering solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and its members in their effort to achieve a fair and equitable contract, and for the good of performers working around the world. Equity U.K. will support SAG-AFTRA and its members by all lawful means."
