While the WGA strike finally ended last month, members of SAG-AFTRA – the labour union that represents about 160,000 actors – are still fighting for fair compensation, AI regulations, improvements in health and retirement benefits, and more.
In light of the ongoing strike, SAG leadership has asked members not to dress up as popular characters from struck content, including the Barbie movie, films and television shows from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Netflix’s Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega. “Let’s use our collective power to send a loud and clear message to our struck employers that we will not promote their content without a fair contract,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement this week.
If the possibility of crossing a picket line with a Halloween costume sounds far-fetched, it’s important to remember that in the Instagram era, any costume – especially one worn by a potentially famous SAG member – could go viral, and (inadvertently or otherwise) serve as a form of promotion. To that end, SAG has requested that members refrain from posting on social media if they do feel the inexhaustible urge to dress up as characters from struck projects.
Obviously, these rules only apply to SAG members, but drawing the line between an original idea and content that mostly exists to make studios money can be difficult at the best of times. So, why not play it safe in a costume derived from, say, Elizabethan England or the Swinging Sixties instead of being one of what’s sure to be a horde of Barbies and Kens at whatever Halloween fête you’re going to? Alternatively, you could just wear a SAG T-shirt and say your costume is “Workers’ Rights Enthusiast”.
What’s New On Netflix?Gallery56 PhotosView Gallery
