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“Extra” Billy Bush visited the Picket Line in Los Angeles for a one-on-one meeting with SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher.
Fran helped break the news that actors would go on strike on Thursday after unions and the Federation of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to reach a deal on Wednesday.
The “Nanny” alumnus delivered an impassioned speech during the announcement, telling Billy: I was unprepared because I consider myself authentic and influential enough to speak candidly to people in leadership. I knew what I was feeling in my heart and I just said it and felt very sad and disappointed with the energy we received from the opposition. We were getting out of a situation that I felt you knew and I really naively thought they hoped the energy they received from the opposition is dealing with us but actually they just want to keep squeezing us out of their livelihoods. “
she continued. “As you know, we went into full swing with an unprecedented 12-day extension. could be avoided, but they really closed the door.” They didn’t come out and canceled the meeting. I thought, ‘Wow, they might have figured it out, and something really good would come out of it, Bupkis came out of there, and we They don’t support their summer movies and what they say or do to any central figure in this industry.”
she continued. “I don’t know what they think they are doing because there are no performers, but we are their partners and we are being treated disrespectfully and dishonorably…the people who work earn their living. They’re locked out and there’s no one in the venue, the top thinks about this, they live so high up, they’re totally out of touch, they’re tone deaf and unfortunately this really It should have happened.”
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Drescher added, “We want to give our viewers, who are fans of us and appreciate our work, some hard-earned money, especially at a time when Covid-19 has nowhere else to go. I’m asking you to think about where you’re going to use it, what companies you’re going to use it for, and they’re supporting it because we’re here on the front lines, Billy, to people like you We are speaking on behalf of workers across the country, we are not unique, this is not happening to us alone, right now It’s happening to other industries too, the eyes of the nation and the world are on us to see what we can do because the good fight we’re fighting is ours. Not just for their sake, but for the exploited workers around the world whose livelihoods are threatened by the greed of big corporations.”
Speaking of her biggest disconnect with the studio, she said: “I think the whole industry model has changed with the advent of streaming, and they’re trying to get us to negotiate a contract that was drawn up in 1960 that in many ways doesn’t reflect that.” At least what the business model is now. Is it happening? We cannot change our business model, nor can we expect our contracts to be updated to reflect our business model. “
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Hollywood actors go on strike after SAG-AFTRA and studios fail to reach deal
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Fran said, “There’s no longer a long-running series. It’s all about subscriptions, it’s pockets they don’t want us in, and there are other things, even money is obvious. not stuff they should have provided us but they are trying to oppress us and they did with a very bad attitude they are bad to good people Doing things and saying things like, “So is the DGA, so is the WGA, if you need it you’ll know…if some people are going to lose their homes, it’s a necessary evil.” I was. ‘It’s like, ‘What? who are you 』
She explained: “I have been in the industry for decades and never expected this kind of reaction. Are you being treated?” I’m sorry, but somewhere along the line someone has to say the jig is up. “