The picket lines have been affected by the heat and air quality — many are being encouraged to walk for only half a day, I believe? — but so far, the turnout has been great in both New York and Los Angeles, and that was true even before SAG-AFTRA officially joined. It’s disheartening how far apart they seem to be, and how opaque it is as to whether they’re even at the negotiating table right now, or with whom; the ripple effects for other non-union jobs will be massive, including entertainment journalists, stylists, and media properties like this one. We fully support the writers and actors striking for what they need, and in the process making it more widely known how certain loopholes are compromising an actor’s ability to make a living — remember, the biggest portion of SAG-AFTRA, in particular, is people you haven’t heard of — or how A.I. might be used to eradicate jobs. As non-union writers, we especially empathize with the fight against replacing people with machines who don’t need to make enough money for rent and health insurance. Cross your fingers that the AMPTP plays ball, and honk if you support labor actions. These studio execs and their nine-figure incomes are so far removed from what it’s actually like to scrape together a living, and those are the people who need this new contract the most.
I like how REGULAR, and here-for-the-duration, everyone is dressed. But listen, if any MORE of these folks want to turn this into a fashion moment… lean in, friends. Make it spicy.
