PILLS, THIS IS TAKEN DAILY AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY. IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT WITHIN A THREE HOUR WINDOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO USE A BACKUP METHOD. >>> WE WANT TO GET YOU LIVE TO LOS ANGELES LOOKING AT UNION LEADERS REPRESENTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOLLYWOOD ACTORS AND THEY ARE ABOUT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE POSSIBILITY OF A STRIKE. LET'S LISTEN. >> COUNTLESS GAINS FOR WORKING ACTORS. TODAY WE EMBARK ON A NEW IMPORTANT CHAPTER IN THE UNION HISTORY. EARLIER THIS MORNING THE NATIONAL BOARD CONVENED FOLLOWING FOUR WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS. BECAUSE IT REMAINS UNWILLING TO OFFER A FAIR DEAL ON KEY ISSUES ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING THE LIVELIHOODS OF WORKING ACTORS AND PERFORMERS, THE NATIONAL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ISSUE A STRIKE ORDER AGAINST THE STUDIOS AND STREAMERS. FROM THE TIME NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN ON JUNE 7th, STAFF AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE HAVE WORKED OVERTIME, DEVOTING THEIR EVENINGS, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS TO ACHIEVING A DEAL THAT WOULD ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE ACTING PROFESSION. DESPITE OUR TEAM'S EFFORT, THEY REMAIN STEADFAST IN THE COMMITMENT TO DEVALUING THE WORK OF OUR MEMBERS. ACTORS DESERVE A CONTRACT THAT REFLECTS THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE INDUSTRY. UNFORTUNATELY THE CURRENT STREAMING MODEL HAS UNDERCUT THE RESIDUAL INCOME AND HIGH INFLATION HAS FURTHER REDUCED THE MEMBERS ABILITY TO MAKE ENDS MEET. ADDITIONALLY, INDUSTRY EXPECTATIONS AROUND SELF TAPED AUDITIONS AND CASTING COST THAT WAS ONCE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRODUCERS. TO COMPLICATE MATTERS FURTHER, ACTORS NOW FACE AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD TH THE RISE OF AIG TECHNOLOGY. WE PROPOSE CONTRACT CHANGES THAT ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNINTERESTED ON THOSE PROPOSALS. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE BOARD HAS DETERMINED THAT IF UNION MEMBER SHOULD WITHHOLD THEIR LABOR UNTIL A FAIR CONTRACT CAN BE ACHIEVED. A STRIKE IS AN INSTRUMENT OF LAST RESORT. WE STRIKE FOR FOUR WEEKS TO STRIKE A DEAL AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE LEFT US WITH NO ALTERNATIVE. ALTHOUGH WE ARE ALL DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RELUCTANCE TO COOPERATE, THE SOLIDARITY AMONG MEMBERS HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER. BASED ON THE ENTHUSIASM I'M SEEING FROM EVERYONE, I TRULY BELIEVE THIS UNION HAS THE UNITY AND THE RESOLVE NEEDED TO FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR CAREERS. DUE TO THE BROAD NATURE OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, THE STRIKE DOES NOT AFFECT ALL MEMBERS OF ALL CONTRACTS JUST THOSE WORKING UNDER THE 2020 NATIONAL CONTRACT. PERFORMERS WORKING IN INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, AUDIOBOOKS, MUSIC, COMMERCIALS AND OTHER CONTRACT EAS WILL NOT BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED. THE STRIKE WILL BEGIN AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND ALL OF US UNION MEMBERS, LEADERSHIP AND STAFF, WILL BE OUT ON PICKET LINES TOMORROW MORNING. MEMBERS ARE URGED TO GO TO STRIKE.ORG FOR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON PICKET LOCATIONS. AND I WANT TO TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO THE PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING TO THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS NEGOTIATION BE COVERED BECAUSE IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD AND PARTICULARLY THE EYES OF LABOR ARE UPON US. WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US IS HAPPENING ACROSS ALL FIELDS OF LABOR. BY MEANS OF WHEN EMPLOYERS MAKE WALL STREET AND GREED THEIR PRIORITY AND THEY FORGET ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS THAT MAKE THE MACHINE RUN. WE HAVE A PROBLEM. AND WE ARE EXPERIENCING THAT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT. THIS IS A VERY SEMINAL HOUR FOR US. I WENT IN, IN EARNEST, THINKING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AVERT A STRIKE. THE GRAVITY OF THIS MOVE IS NOT LOST ON ME, FOR OUR NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE, OR OUR BOARD MEMBERS, WHO HAVE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PROCEED WITH A STRIKE. IT'S A VERY SERIOUS THING THAT IMPACT THOUSANDS IF NOT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. NOT ONLY MEMBERS OF THIS UNION BUT PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT SERVICE THE PEOPLE, THAT WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY. AND SELL THAT WE CAME TO THIS CROSSROAD BUT WE HAD NO CHOICE. WE ARE THE VICTIMS HERE WE ARE BEING VICTIMIZED BY A VERY GREEDY ENTITY. I AM SHOCKED BY THE WAY THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS WITH, ARE TREATING US. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. QUITE FRANKLY. HOW FAR APART WE ARE ON SO MANY THINGS. HOW THEY PLEAD POVERTY THEY ARE LOSING MONEY LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE GIVING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THEIR CEOs. IT IS DISGUSTING. SHAME ON THEM. THEY STAND ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY AT THIS VERY MOMENT. WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY IN UNPRECEDENTED UNITY. OUR UNION AND OUR SISTER UNIONS AND THE UNIONS AROUND THE WORLD ARE STANDING BY US. AS WELL AS OTHER LABOR UNIONS. BECAUSE AT SOME POINT THE JIG IS UP. YOU CANNOT KEEP BEING DWINDLED AND MARGINALIZED AND DISRESPECTED AND DISHONORED. THE ENTIRE BUSINESS MODEL HAS BEEN CHANGED. BY STREAMING, DIGITAL, AI. THIS IS A MOMENT OF HISTORY THAT IS A MOMENT OF TRUTH. IF WE DON'T STAND TALL RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE. WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE IN JEOPARDY OF BEING REPLACED BY MACHINES AND BIG BUSINESS WHO CARES MORE ABOUT -- THAN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. MOST OF AMERICANS DON'T HAVE MORE THAN $500 IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS IS A VERY BIG DEAL. AND IT WEIGHS HEAVY ON US. BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO SAY NO. WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE. YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? PRIVATELY THEY ALL SAY WE ARE AT THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL. EVERYBODY ELSE TINKERS AROUND OUR ARTISTRYBUT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. IT WAS INSULTING. SO WE CAME TOGETHER IN STRENGTH AND SOLIDARITY AND UNITY WITH THE LARGEST STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE IN OUR UNION'S HISTORY. AND WE MADE THE HARD DESION THAT WE TELL YOU, AS HE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY. THIS IS MAJOR. IT'S REALLY SERIOUS AND IT IS GOING TO IMPACT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT IS IN LABOR. WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN A COUNTRY RIGHT NOW THAT HAPPENS TO BE LABOR FRIENDLY. AND YET, WE ARE FACING OPPOSITION THAT WAS SO LABOR UNFRIENDLY. SO TONE DEAF TO WHAT WE ARE SAYING. YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE BUSINESS MODEL AS MUCH AS IT HAS CHANGED AND NOT EXPECT THE CONTRACT TO CHANGE TOO. WE ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP DOING INCREMENTAL CHANGES ON A CONTRACT THAT NO LONGER HONORS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH THIS BUSINESS MODEL THAT WAS WASTED UPON US. WHAT ARE WE DOIN MOVING AROUND FURNITURE ON THE TITANIC? IT'S CRAZY. SO THE JIG IS UP. WE STAND TALL. YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. WE ARE IN LABOR AND WE STAND TALL AND WE DEMAND RESPECT. AND TO BE HONORED FOR OUR CONTRIBUTION. YOU SHARE THE WEALTH BECAUSE YOU CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT US. THANK YOU. >> THAT IS OUR PRESIDENT. QUESTIONS? >> RIGHT HERE, JEREMY. >> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IMPORTANT WE KNOW WE RESPECT EVERYBODY'S RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT. THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT OUR STATEMENTS ABOUT NOT WANTING TO BE HELD -- THEY ARE INTENDED TO DETRACT FROM THE AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER UNION AGREEMENT. THE MEMBERS -- WE WENT INTO THAT NEGOTIATION NEGOTIATING FROM OUR MEMBERS. I REJECT THAT IDEA OF OUR MEMBERS NEEDING TO SEE INCREASES THAT ALLOW THEM TO KEEP UP WITH THE PACE OF INFLATION. MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE WORKING FOR LESS MONEY THAN THEY MADE IN 2020 AND WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT OUR MEMBERS SHOULD NOTBE WORKING AT THE END OF THE TERM OF THIS CONTRACT IN 2026 FOR LESS MONEY THAN THEY MADE IN REAL DOLLARS AND 2020. THAT'S WRONG, IT'S UNFAIR AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. WE DIDN'T REACH AN AGREEMENT AT THAT POINT. >> COMMITTEE MEMBERS? >> WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO LEADERS OF THE NATIONS UNION SPEAK PASSIONATELY ABOUT WHAT IS NOW AS OF MIDNIGHT GOING TO BE A STRIKE AFTER FAILING TO AGREE ON A NEW LABOR DEAL WITH THE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS. WE SAW THE ACTRESS WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL BOARD SAY SHE AND HER MEMBERS ARE THE VICTIMS HERE. YOU SEE THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAYING THAT WHAT ACTORS ARE BEING PAID TODAY DOESN'T COMPARE WITH TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO. >> IT SEEMED LIKE A HEARTFELT SPEECH THAT AS YOU SAY THE PRESIDENT, HAD THERE. SHE'S STAGE IT AS AN EXISTENTIAL BATTLE BETWEEN WEALTHY CEOs AND WORKERS SAYING WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS IMPORTANT. IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS ALL AREAS OF LABOR. OF ALL THE INDUSTRY HAVING A PROBLEM, THEY WAY IT OUT VERY CAREFULLY THE GRAVITY OF THIS MOVE SAYING THAT THE STRIKE CAME WITH GREAT SADNESS AND THAT THEY ARE THE VICTIMS. SHE STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH WORKERS OF ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS . >> WE ARE JOINED NOW BY SHARON. SHE'S THE EDITOR AND CHIEF. YOU'VE GOT SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE ROOM ASKING SOME QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW IS THIS PRESS CONFERENCE CONTINUES. I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION NOT JUST TO THE NEWS THAT THE STRIKE WILL HAPPEN AT MIDNIGHT, BUT THAT PASSIONATE SPEECH WE SAW HER LAYING OUT. >> THAT IS A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL SPEECH SHE JUST DAYS. SHE MADE IT A MORAL CASE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. AS TO WHY HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST LABOR UNION IS ABOUT TO GO ON STRIKE. THIS IS BEING STATED A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THEM ON STRIKE IS GOING TO BRING THE ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TO A DEAD HALT. SO I THINK THAT SHE FEELS THE NEED TO EXPLAIN THE WEIGHTF THAT DECISION AND SHE IS VERY PUBLICLY TRYING TO SHAME THE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS INTO BEING ON THE DEFENSIVE IN THIS DISPUTE BECAUSE IT IS. SHE'S RIGHT. IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL. ALL TELEVISION PROGRAMS, ALL MOVIE PRODUCTION, ALL PROMOTION INVOLVING ACTORS AND ANY MOVIES THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE OR ANY SHOWS THAT ARE COMING OUT. ALL OF THAT COMES TO A DEAD STOP. >> YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE SHAME. SHE SAID IT IS DISGUSTING, <u>HAME ON THEM. </u> AM WONDERING, SHARON, WITH TWO HOLLYWOOD UNIONS ON STRIKE DOES IT HELP THEM GET TO A DEAL FASTER? HOW DOES ALL OF THAT PLAY OUT? ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HASN'T REALLY HAPPENED AND MOST OF OUR LIFETIMES. >> I DON'T REALLY KNOW. BECAUSE HER EMOTIONAL POSTURE SUGGESTS THAT THEY ARE REALLY NOT VERY CLOSE ACTUALLY. FOR THE FEDERAL MEDIATOR WORKING WITH THEM YESTERDAY AND THE DEADLINE PASSING AT MIDNIGHT WITH NO WORD, A LOT OF US WHO WERE OBSERVING AND COVERING THIS, IMMINENT STRIKE RETHINKING OKAY, THEY ARE PRETTY CLOSE. THEY HAVEN'T COME OUT WITH THE STATEMENT AND OF COURSE WE GOT THE STATEMENT THEY WALKED AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. I THINK THAT SUGGESTS THERE ARE SOME REAL VERY -- FAR PART POSITIONS HERE THAT NEED TO BE OVERCOME. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE OFF THE POSITION WHERE THEY ARE AT. THIS DOESN'T SERVE ANYBODY AND IT IS EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO THIS ENTIRE INDUSTRY ALL AROUND BUT I THINK SHE WAS TRYING TO EXPRESS THAT IT'S NOT FRIVOLOUS. IT'S NOT -- THEY GET HOW MOMENTOUS THE DECISION TO WALK AWAY, IS. >> LET'S SPELL THAT OUT FOR VIEWERS A LITTLE MORE. SOME I THINK SHE'S A CELEBRITY. THEY CAN NAME CERTAIN CELEBRITIES. YOU THINK OF THEM AS MILLIONAIRES. WHY ARE THEY COMPLAINING? THE REALITY IS, WE'VE INTERVIEWED PEOPLE THERE ARE MANY MIDDLE-CLASS ACTORS, WHO NEED TO EARN AN INCOME NOT EVEN OWNING A HOME. SPEAK TO US ABOUT SOMETHING SHE SAID WHERE SHE SAID YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE BUSINESS MODEL WITHOUT CHANGING THE CONTRACT. IT SOUNDS AS IF SHE WAS SAYING WHAT WAS BEING OFFERED BY THE STUDIO IS THE INCREMENTAL CHANGES WHEN THE POINT SHE'S MAKING IS, THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE HAS SHIFTED AND ACTORS ARE RECEIVING SINGLE DOLLAR RESIDUAL CHECKS FOR THEIR WORK ISN'T SUSTAINABLE. CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING DISAGREED ABOUT? >> THIS HAS BEEN A POINT -- BETWEEN THE TWSIDES FOR PROBABLY A DECADE NOW BECAUSE RESIDUALS AS IT USED TO IMPLY TO LEGACY TELEVISION LINEAR TELEVISION SHOWS THAT WE ALL USED TO WATCH DECADES AGO FRIENDS OR WHATEVER. THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THE SHOW STILL GET VERY HEALTHY CHECKS TODAY. WHEN YOU ARE WORKING ON A SHOW, THEY QUITE CONSCIOUSLY THE STUDIO IS TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THAT BUSINESS MODEL BUT THE REALITY IS, MOST PROGRAMS FOR TELEVISION IS ON STREAMING TODAY. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CRITICAL AND YES YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. MOST ACTORS ARE WORKING FOLKS. THEY DO RELY ON THOSE CHECKS MOST WRITERS. THEY RELY ON WORK THEY DID IN THE PAST AS THEY ARE GOING ON TO THE NEXT PROJECT TO CONTINUE TO HELP SUPPORT THEM. IT IS TRUE THAT WHILE YOU DO SEE TOM CRUISE AND BIG SUPER WEALTHY ACTORS, THE PEOPLE WHEN YOU THINK OF, HOLLYWOOD IS FILLED WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORK A DAY WORKMANLIKE ACTORS. I PRESUME SHE MAKES GREAT RESIDUALS FROM THE NANNY, WHICH WAS ON BROADCAST TELEVISION MANY YEARS AGO, STILL A LOT OF RERUNS THAT REALITY ISN'T TRUE ANYMORE FOR THE EQUIVALENT AND WHOEVER'S ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO APPROACH. SHE IS NOT WRONG. THE BUSINESS MODEL FOR THE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE STUDIOS ARE GOING TO SAY YES BUT THE BUSINESS MODEL CHANGED FOR US TOO. WE ARE NOT MAKING WHAT THEY'RE USED TO MAKING. THE BOX OFFICE IS CLIMBING BACK FROM 2019. COMPETING WITH STREAMING. THAT IS THEIR MODEL ON THE BUSINESS I'LL. THEY ARE ALSO CHALLENGING TH ARE TRYING TO DEFEND. >> I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS STRIKE IS GOING TO HAVE. NOT JUST ON SHUTTING DOWN HOLLYWOOD. SHUTTING DOWN THE INDUSTRY. AS WE HEARD, SHE SAID HOW MUCH IT WEIGHED HEAVILY ON HER THIS DECISION TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL OF THE ANCILLARY PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE INDUSTRY WHO ARE NOT PART OF THESE UNIONS BUT ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY IT. CAN YOU HELP GIVE US SOME CONTEXT FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW BIG OF A DEAL THIS IS? NOT JUST FOR THE TWO UNIONS ON STRIKE BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS PART OF HOLLYWOOD? >> THIS OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS EVERYBODY FROM CINEMATOGRAPHERS TO ALL THOSE GRAPHS YOU SEE IN THE CREDITS AND IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE OBSESSIVE PEOPLE, THE VAST BOY, THE GAFFER, ALL OF THOSE JOBS ARE JUST GOING TO BE PUT ON HOLD. THERE IS A LOT OF JOBS ALL OVER. NOT JUST IN CALIFORNIA. PRODUCTION GOES ON EVERYWHERE ALL AROUND THE GLOBE. ALL OF THAT AND. IF YOU'RE A MEMBER, YOU CANNOT GO MAKE A MOVIE AND HUNGRY FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN'T DO A RED CARPET AT A FESTIVAL ELSEWHERE. ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHICH INCLUDES CATERERS, COSTUME DESIGNERS AND PRODUCTION DESIGNERS WHAT WE CALL BELOW THE LINE. PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT THE NAMES AND LIGHTS KIND OF FOLKS. THE EDITORS AND JUST THE SURFACE ON WHERE THESE PRODUCTIONS GET MADE. ALL OF THOSE ARE AFFECTED ALL THE WAY AROUND WITH THAT RIPPLE EFFECT WHICH IS WHY I THINK SHE FELT COMPELLED TO SAY WE DIDN'T DO THIS LIGHTLY BECAUSE THEY EFFECTIVELY ARE NOT JUST SHUTTING DOWN OVER 100,000 PEOPLE FROM WORKING, BUT EVERYONE IN THE INDUSTRY. >> WE ARE WITNESSING A REAL SHIFT IN OUR ECONOMY A SHIFT IN LABOR. A SHIFT IN HOW PEOPLE ARE COMPENSATED AND IT TAKES ANOTHER TURN TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT AS THEY BEGIN TO STRIKE WITH 160,000 MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US YOUR VIEWS
