The SAG-AFTRA Writers strike started on July 14, 2023. This is a strike made by the writers and some actors of the SAG-AFTRA company. SAG-AFTRA means The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. This is the first time there has been a strike at SAG since 1960. SAG-AFTRA works with AMPTP which works with companies like Netflix, Disney, and Paramount. The SAG members are fighting for better pay and better working conditions because their jobs are being threatened by artificial intelligence. The actors cannot rely on royalties from old reruns of shows. SAG members demanded guarantees on how AI will be used by production and studio companies. AMPTP is who they are striking against.

Some celebrities who were participating in the strike include Pete Davidson, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Imagine Dragons, Bill Nye and many more. Lots of these celebrities made posts on instagram to spread awareness they have also striked and marched. I have interviewed some local people who have worked with big companies such as Disney. 

 My first interview was with a local entrepreneur, Alexia Valentine, a designer for the show called “ The Loud House.”  She has worked worked on the series, movie, and comic book. We talked at the Lunar Market, a small business event downtown. She had a booth where you could get a sign with any word or name on it made out of any Disney character or thing that you possibly might want! She used to work at a Disney Land, where she did this for the company. Alexia is really fortunate to be allowed to work from her home for Disney. She completely supports writers and actors because they deserve more and deserve to be given more. Her instagram is “lovelysundae”,and you should consider checking it out!

Raven Hunter is a local dance teacher at Uptown Dance Arts. She has worked on projects such as High School Musical, Step Up series, and other things that deal with SAG. She is a dance teacher who has been in so many things. She thinks that “The strike is a good way to spread awareness to what is happening in the industry and it is a peaceful way to fight for what you are involved in.” Her instagram is ravhunter. 

Alyssa Jenks is a freshman at Pleasent Valley this year. She has been dancing at Uptown Dance Arts since she was very little. She does all styles of dance and she does it competitively. Her favorite styles of dance are ballet and contemporary. She thinks the writers strike is a very empowering way that writers get to stand up for themselves and what they believe in. “I think that the writers community has been getting unfair pay for a very long time and the strike is not only a way to get well deserved higher pay but also to raise awareness about the unfair pay they have received.”

A scab is a person who is part of a community that is striking but continues to work. This weakens the strikes power and the person will usually get a lot of hate, such as Drew Barrymore, who started working on “The Drew Barrymore Show, ” a talk show which she hosts. She announced a new season would premiere on September 18, 2023. A week after the announcement, she postponed the new season after the strike because of the hate she has gotten. This was a good move for Barrymore.

After the SAG members have been striking for 153 days AMPTP agreed tentatively to everything the writers were asking for! This is great news, the writers strike is over and the film industry is at peace.