Osas Ighodaro joins the Hollywood SAG-AFTRA strike

Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are both abbreviated as SAG and AFTRA respectively.

Approximately 160,000 journalists, radio presenters, and actors in film and television are represented by the unions.

First in more than 60 years, members of both unions have joined the ongoing writers' strike. Since writers and performers last went on strike concurrently in 1960, this is Hollywood's first industry-wide closure since that time.

In response to the difficulties presented by streaming and the picket lines that writers have been walking for more than 70 days, actors have joined them in their struggle for better pay and protection.

These concerns currently include modifications to residual payments and the possible employment effects of artificial intelligence.

The president of SAG-AFTRA, Fran Drescher, announced the strike on July 13, 2023, stating that "the entire business model has been transformed" and emphasizing that "this is a moment in history—a moment of truth. You must eventually declare, "No, we're not going to put up with this any longer."

In the past, the actors' strike in 1980 lasted for more than three months, while the screenwriters' strike in 2007 lasted 100 days.

How long this specific strike will last is currently unknown. The vast majority of TV and movie projects have thus far had to suspend or end entirely. As more actors join the strike, there will likely be more commotion.