The vote came after negotiations between the actors’ union and the major studios failed to reach an agreement on a new film and TV contract. The actors’ strike begins at midnight. Negotiations began June 7, ahead of which SAG-AFTRA secured a strike authorization from members with a 98% approval margin. Ahead of the original June 30 deadline, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said that the two sides were having “extremely productive” talks. “We are concerned by the idea that SAG-AFTRA members may be ready to make sacrifices that leadership is not,” said the letter signed by Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Ben Stiller.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 14, 2023 07:47 UTC