New York, July 25, 2023 - A star-studded event, "Rock the City for a Fair Contract" rally, took place in Times Square on Tuesday, with Hollywood actors showing solidarity during their ongoing strike alongside writers. Actors such as Bryan Cranston, Christine Baranski, F Murray Abraham, and many others delivered passionate speeches to emphasize their demands and concerns. Cranston, known for his roles in "Breaking Bad" and "Malcolm in the Middle," addressed Disney CEO Bob Iger directly in his powerful speech. He expressed that while Iger might view the situation through a different lens, they demand to be heard. Cranston highlighted the importance of not allowing their jobs to be replaced by robots and voiced concerns about the use of AI in the entertainment industry, which has been a contentious issue during negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). He further emphasized that their right to work and earn a decent living should not be compromised and, most importantly, their dignity should never be taken away.
Christine Baranski, speaking from her experience as a "working actor" and on behalf of background and guest actors, demanded fair compensation, healthcare, retirement benefits, respect, and recognition for their invaluable contributions. She also urged top executives with high salaries to "share the wealth." Other actors, including Wendell Pierce, Steve Buscemi, Christian Slater, and Tituss Burgess, supported the cause on stage, while Michael Shannon, BD Wong, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Chastain, Matt Bomer, Corey Stoll, and Chloë Grace Moretz demonstrated their support. Liza Colón-Zayas, known for her role in "The Bear," expressed her distress over dwindling residuals and quoted Snoop Dogg, saying, "Where the f*** is my money?" F. Murray Abraham, recently nominated for an Emmy, emphasized the significance of the actors' union in maintaining a middle class and preserving democracy, stating that every worker in America deserves these benefits. Sag-Aftra’s national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, delivered a passionate speech, denouncing the big corporations' unfair treatment of their members. He called for fair and respectful deals and underlined that they would continue to stand firm until their demands were met.
Dwayne Johnson's "historic" seven-figure donation to the Sag-Aftra Foundation Relief Fund also received recognition during the rally. The donation will provide emergency assistance to union members facing financial difficulties due to the strike. The battle over AI and its ramifications in the entertainment industry were also a focal point during the rally. Actors fear that the rise of AI technology threatens their jobs, from background actors to A-list celebrities. Concerns were raised about deepfake technology, consent issues, and the potential replacement of human actors with digital scans. As the strike continues, Hollywood actors and writers remain united in their demand for fair treatment, respect, and recognition of their contributions to the entertainment industry. The strike's impact is expected to continue for months, with major studios halting production until a resolution is reached. The industry-wide battle over AI has brought Hollywood to the forefront of labor disputes, with actors vowing to protect their profession and workers in other sectors as well.
