Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Demi Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Jon Hamm, have signed an open letter of support for the continuing SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Cynthia Nixon, Jon Hamm and Jonathan Groff, were also among signatories to the letter organized by SAG-AFTRA strike captains.
The letter, which was addressed to the SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee said defiantly: ‘We have not come all this way to cave now.’
‘Back in June, before we went on strike, a large group of members signed an open letter telling our leaders that we would rather go on strike than take a bad deal’ the letter read.
‘Now, more than 100 days into our strike, that is still true. As hard as this is, we would rather stay on strike than take a bad deal.
Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Demi Moore (pictured), Mark Ruffalo and Jon Hamm , have signed an open letter of support for the continuing SAG-AFTRA strikes
SAG-AFTRA members and supporters picket outside Paramount Studios on day 106 of their strike against the Hollywood studios on October 27, 2023 in Los Angeles
Celebs on strike: Succession stars Alan Ruck and Justine Lupe pictured on the picket line in Los Angeles, California on July 18
‘We have not come all this way to cave now.’
Adding: We have not gone without work, without pay, and walked picket lines for months just to give up on everything we’ve been fighting for.’
Studios such as Disney announced further delays to next year’s release line-ups in the wake of the ongoing industrial action.
Disney announced on Friday that its highly anticipated live-action Snow White movie starring Rachel Zegler would be delayed by a year to March 21, 2025.
It comes as financial hardships begin to weigh heavier on struggling creatives who have been without work for months on end.
Under the rules of the strike the union’s 16,000 members are not allowed to film movies or TV series, take part in any press or film premieres, or promote their projects.
As a result, thousands of people are out of work because big budget projects have been shut down and glitzy red carpet events have been cancelled or postponed.
Many crew members, from makeup artists to background actors, have been forced to take jobs outside of the industry in order to survive and there are fears they will have no option but to quit Hollywood for good.
Out of work: Celebrity stylists have had jobs cancelled as a result of the ongoing SAG strike (stock image)
New line of work: Background actor Vincent Amaya has been forced to take up a job in a restaurant in order to support himself – has has also set up a GoFundMe page to help others in need
Getting glam: Matin Maulawizada, pictured doing Kristen Davis’ makeup, has lost a lot of work due to the strikes
Working hard: Matin on the set of HBO series And Just Like That, which was filmed before the strikes
Speaking exclusively to .com in the summer, one stylist, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the SAG-AFRA strike has been ‘very damaging’ for many and that workers who are predominantly in the red carpet industry are at risk of losing their homes.
‘My work for the rest of this year, in the red-carpet space with celebrity talent, which is my core business has evaporated,’ she said. ‘It has all been cancelled indefinitely.
‘I was supposed to be doing a major network TV show with top celebrity talent next month and that is on hold. That is income that I rely on for the rest of the year. So, it is very problematic.’
Despite being in support of the strike, she laid bare the brutal reality for her fellow celebrity stylists and warned: ‘This is like Covid all over again. It’s really, really, really serious.
‘There’s going to be layoffs, there’s going to be people losing their businesses, there’s going to be people losing their homes, people losing their livelihoods. It’s going to be really bad.
‘A lot of people are going to have to leave the industry.’
Her bleak forecast comes as a costume designer said to .com that they had been out of work since October last year, ahead of the strike action, as productions were delaying and not proceeding in anticipation of the possible strike.
A huge concern for celebrity stylists is that unlike costume designers, writers, and actors, they are not protected by the union, so they’re on their own when it comes to fighting for workers’ rights.
It’s not just stylists who are at risk of losing their livelihoods, as background actors are also facing desperate times.
Full-time background actor Vincent Amaya revealed he has been out of work since February ahead of anticipated strike action and that he has been forced to take a job in a restaurant in order pay his bills.
Speaking to .com, he said: ‘February came and went, and I was still looking for work. I went months without work, hoping things would resolve itself.
‘At the beginning, in February and March, I was struggling [to pay my bills] because the lack of work just came out of nowhere. As the months went by, I got a loan out that I had to pay back in 90 days.’
Vincent explained that he reached out to SAG-AFRA for financial assistance before the strikes because of his sudden change in circumstance and that he was provided with $1000 to help him with his bills.
But because new acting projects never arose, he had to start working at a restaurant, which he calls his “survival job”.
‘I feel like getting a “survival job” is like leaving the industry,’ he said. ‘Even though I am fine now, I’m not happy. I’m not doing what I love. But I do have my bills paid. I definitely want to leave it when the strike is over.’
By contrast Demi Moore’s new worth is estimated to be around $200 million, earning $11 million for her role as G.I. Jane alone back in 1997.
Cynthia Nixon has been raking in $1 million per episode of And Just Like That, Variety reported and has an estimated net worth of more than $25 million.
Similarly Avengers star Mark Ruffalo, another celebrity signatory, has an estimated net worth of more than $35 million.