The impact of the strike has been significant, affecting the production of numerous upcoming shows and films. Amidst the strike, a photo surfaced online that captured a poster of SS Rajamouli’s film, ‘RRR’. In the picture, you can see a man wearing a hat walking amidst the strike, holding a poster featuring Ram Charan and Jr NTR performing their iconic hook step from the song ‘Naatu Naatu’. ‘RRR’ gained international recognition when it won an Oscar for this particular song.
SAG-AFTRA represents a community of more than 160,000 actors, media professionals, broadcast journalists, and hosts, who rely on the union to advocate for fair pay and favorable working conditions from major Hollywood studios. The union negotiates with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which includes prominent studios and streaming services, every three years to secure these provisions.
However, on July 12, SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP failed to reach an agreement, leading to the declaration of an indefinite strike. The impact was felt immediately, as prominent stars such as Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh showed their support by leaving the red carpet during the ‘Oppenheimer’ premiere. The combined strike of SAG-AFTRA and the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike has created a serious threat to major Hollywood studios, disrupting their promotional activities, festivals, and even podcast appearances. The strike has thrown the industry into disarray, with significant consequences for all involved parties.