Most movie and TV production has been shut down because of the dual strikes by the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA, but at least one series has been granted a waiver to keep filming.
The Chosen, a Christian historical drama about the life of Jesus, is the first known series to be cleared by the actors’ union to continue shooting during the strike, Deadline reports.
The series’ official Twitter account announced Monday that they were cleared to resume shooting their fourth season, which was entirely funded by donations, after agreeing to SAG’s “interim agreement” for independent productions. One requirement is an 11% increase in the minimum wage paid to actors under the now-expired 2020 union contract.
The upcoming indie action-comedy Bride Hard, starring Rebel Wilson, was the first movie to be granted an interim agreement over the weekend. It’s unclear how many productions will be granted waivers, but they’re expected to primarily be given to films, since most series are made by studios affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Along with shutting down studio productions, the SAG strike bars actors from participating in promotional events. The Disneyland premiere of Disney’s Haunted Mansion remake was derailed by the strike on Saturday night, with none of its stars in attendance. Theme park workers dressed as classic Disney characters walked the red carpet in their place.
Other studios have canceled their premiere festivities because of the strike, including Oppenheimer, which will be screened with no red carpet Monday in New York. The film’s cast walked out of the U.K. premiere on Thursday the moment the SAG strike was announced.
Moody’s debt analyst Neil Begley predicted Monday that Hollywood is in for a “relatively long strike,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. While he estimates that new contracts for the DGA, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA will cost studios between $450 and $600 million per year, dragging out the strikes could also be costly.
“In a prolonged strike in which new theatrical Hollywood tentpole product is spread more thinly or runs dry, these companies could face earnings, cash flow and liquidity pressures,” he wrote.
The Hollywood shutdown is also expected to have a major impact on non-entertainment-sector businesses across Los Angeles, including restaurants, caterers, and child care.
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