Even though the players are on strike, they plan to keep shooting House of the Dragon and Industry this summer.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) has gone on strike, which has shut down projects across the US until a deal is made. In the UK, however, things are different.
Even though the precursor to Game of Thrones is an American show, most of the actors are British and have contracts with Equity.
Its fellow HBO production Industry also operates under these rules, and Deadline reports that both programmes are set to continue as planned.
US actors Ken Leung and Myha’la Herrold, who are in the show Industry, have been told to “continue to report to work” by Sag-aftra members with Equity contracts.
People in the UK can’t go on strike together with people in other countries because of rules against trade unions.
But that hasn’t stopped fans from criticising the show for still being made.
‘Be pretty cool if they didn’t out of solidarity,’ wrote one fan, while another person added: ‘Yikes that just feels wrong.’
However, other pointed out: ‘If they walk off and join the strike they will be sued for breach of contract.’
Equity’s guidance states: ‘Industrial relations legislation in the United Kingdom is draconian, and often viewed as the most restrictive in the Western world.
‘The convoluted and pernicious hurdles faced by all unions in the United Kingdom are a national disgrace and need urgent reform.
‘The regrettable consequence of this framework is that what artists working in the United Kingdom – whether SAG-AFTRA and/or Equity members (or both) – can do, may be different from their comrades in the United States and other parts of the world.’
Still, the union has noted its ‘unwavering solidarity’ for the Screen Actors Guild.
They continued: ‘The key elements of the claim are longstanding, shared fights for our unions – issues like pay and residual payments.
‘But SAG-AFTRA, like Equity, is also bravely facing head-on existential questions on issues like Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the rise in virtual auditions and self tapes.
‘Securing fairness in pay, terms, and conditions is critical whether they be with traditional producers, or new global streamers, and with new modes of making and distributing work to a global audience.’
The union added that they stand ‘full square’ behind the Sag-aftra, and called for change.
They added: ‘The members of our unions, and all entertainment unions across the globe, create the vast wealth within our industry – it is right and just that they have decent, modern pay and conditions.’
Source My Celebrity Life.