TUCSON, Ariz. – “We’re tired of hearing the same old story over and over again,” said Jon Proudstar. They make these movies and they make a killing at the box office, so why should anybody from that movie be unemployed?”
Actor Jon Proudstar, who appears in Disney-produced shows such as Reservation Dogs, splits his time between Los Angeles and his home in Tucson.
He is usually on set, but for four months (118 days to be exact), Proudstar stood with thousands of actors across the country fighting for better working conditions.
The Hollywood strike ended on 9 November. SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, reached a tentative agreement and now the final step is for actors to vote and ratify the contract.
Actors and crew members alike are hoping to get back to work soon.
Demanding better working conditions from the studios, such as an updated pay model and protection from studios using AI, Proudstar says it’s a matter of getting back to what’s fair.
“We’ve always had a partnership, that’s what’s made films fantastic,” he said.
“There’s always above the line and below the line; the producers, the money people and the studios, they get the lion’s share of the money and we get it. These guys walk away with billions and we get a little bit, but it’s kind of cool because it’s fair. It’s been understood that they always share the wealth.
SAG-AFTRA won an immediate 7 per cent raise for performers and an 11 per cent raise for background actors.
Actors will also get two more raises in 2024 and 2025, of 4 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.
But the biggest concern for many actors, and for Proudstar, is protection against artificial intelligence.
“That was the scary part, because that’s what movies are about,” Proudstar said. “Movies are about making connections and evoking emotions in other human beings. You need other human beings to do that.”
If a studio wants to use AI, actors must give written permission and be paid if their image is used.
Monitoring measures have also been put in place: there will be biannual meetings between SAG-AFTRA representatives and the major studios to review how and how much artificial intelligence is being used in films.
But just as the strike has affected those in front of the camera, those working behind the scenes have also felt the effects of the strike, with little or no work left.
“I’ve worked with Walmart, Tilly’s, Speedos, Big 10 Football, all kinds of different companies,” said Michael Redden. Redden started out in news and worked his way up to film, working as a director of photography for studios like Amazon.
“When they stop calling, you know something is up. If you’re not working for the big guys, you have to take a bunch of smaller jobs.”
Sometimes he would take on four or five different jobs in a day to make a daily profit on a bigger project.
Aside from the impact the strike had on his ability to make ends meet, he and countless others working in film production found themselves stuck when they didn’t have the income to afford projects of their own.
“Whatever job they’re doing is not their end game,” Redden said.
“For example, I financed my feature film by working on an Amazon Prime documentary. If I’m not working on something bigger, it’s harder for the mid-level guys to fund their own projects.”
Since the end of the actors’ strike, many films whose production had been halted have been given new release dates. Redden expects work to pick up again soon.
As for the current contract, both Redden and Proudstar say they are glad the strike is over, but the deal is not a permanent solution to a long-term problem.
“For the company we were fighting for and the resources we had, I’m shocked they got what they got. Fran and SAG were able to do what they did, and it’s impressive and it’s a great starting point. But at some point we have to step up to the plate, and that’s where we are right now.
Proudstar says this contract won’t end all disputes, but it’s much needed to reflect the changes the film and television industry has been making for years.
He plans to vote yes to ratify the contract and hopes that updates will be made to create a fair industry in the years to come.