The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes Are OVER!

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes are officially over as of Thursday, Nov. 9 (though the WGA was able to end there’s earlier). I can’t tell you just how excited we here at Trust the Dice are to get back to our regularly scheduled reviews and streams – though we may be altering the latter just a bit (we’ll discuss that at a later date).
 
Let’s talk about the strikes, for just a moment longer.
 
It only occurred to me recently that the biggest sticking point for actors and writers wasn’t common knowledge. People thought it just boiled down to royalties. While that was an issue, it was not the biggest among them. In fact, I’d say it was the least important issue they were fighting for overall. There were issues they fought for that affect everyone, even those not in Hollywood.
 
The easiest agreements that fell among the most important of them, involved things like sexual harassment prevention, young actors continuing schooling, and closer monitoring of animal actors to protect everyone on set. There were agreements on those issues made all the way back in July.
 
Then there were issues of inclusion. It came out during the strike that, often, services on sets were only provided for white actors. Things like hair and makeup were rarely provided for other races. I’ve heard a lot of arguments about how the big actors should be able to take on that kind of fee, but even if they could, that kind of exclusion is objectively wrong. For that kind of racism to prevail in this day, is ridiculous. The fact that the AMPTP argued with altering it, for any length of time, is disgusting.
 
Finally, there was one sticking point that made it so that no writer or actor could even think of going back to work without resolving. It’s an item that could have set a Black Mirror-esk precedent for all of us. That issue was artificial intelligence.
 
The AMPTP refused to give an inch during the strikes on anything AI related, but it was such an important issue that no creative would dare think of ending negotiations without resolving it.
 
Writers were fighting for AI to be unusable for writing, or rewriting, their material. This means they were fighting for the right to their own work. The way AI works, any script written by it would be a Frankenstein of other writers’ projects. Any writing used to train AI would be up for grabs in those projects and would have led to rampant plagiarism. The hard work writers created could have been taken and used to form other creations without any compensation or credit.
 
As a writer, I’m glad the guild stuck it out and gave no inch where AI was concerned.
 
Yet, I feel like what actors were fighting for was even more important.
 
The studios wanted to be able to take a scan of actors, pay them a (very low) one-time fee and use their likeness in perpetuity – even after their death. In fact, on some projects they had already begun doing so. There are reports of background actors having been scanned, and then told afterwards that the scans would be used to make digital copies of them for future work. Work they would have no credit or pay for.
 
How many cameras are placed all around us these days? Traffic cameras, doorbell cameras, phones… there’s no doubt that each one of us appears on video many times every single day. Now, the SAG/AFTRA deal doesn’t affect laws, but it does offer precedent as to what people will tolerate. If the actors had quit before securing the right to their own images, it would have told politicians that the line for AI use was hazier than they thought.
 
Given the chance to use the likeness of citizens for free, who knows what could have happened.
 
If you’re one of the people out there who thought these strikes were just about making the rich richer, I hope you don’t think that anymore. I hope you see how important these strikes were to all of us.
 
Congrats to the WGA and SAG/AFTRA on their new contracts! I’m so very excited to get back to promoting your films.

Convention Do's and Don'ts During WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike

 

 

It’s that time of year again when geek-culture conventions are on my mind… and, really, at the forefront of the thoughts of many. San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) is happening as we speak, continuing through July 23rd. Here in Louisiana, we have Geek’d Con happening August 18th - 23rd. Dragon Con in Atlanta, GA runs from August 31st through September 4th (Labor Day weekend). New York Comic-Con isn’t too far behind running October 12th to 15th.

These gatherings celebrate fandoms and give the average fan a chance to meet some of their favorite actors, artists, and costumers while also getting the opportunity to shop for souvenirs in the process. I have long been a fan of these conventions where we can all let our geek flags fly proudly amongst our fellow geeky peers. I adore pulling in friends that may not realize how much fun they can have at these events and watching them have a blast geeking out too. I enjoy volunteering at the conventions I attend to help them run smoothly and give everyone a great experience. I used to work as volunteer staff at Dragon Con for several years, however, travel expenses have curtailed that long ago and I now stay closer to home working with Geek’d Con.

 

2023 is going to be significantly different from previous years, however. 

The WGA (Writers Guild of America) and SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) are on strike in order to push the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) to contract with fair wages and updated rights that take into consideration this new digital age. This means members of the 2 striking organizations are limited in what they can and are willing to participate in without “crossing picket lines.”

SDCC’s Hall H is going to feel a bit empty this year without all of the A-list appearances, panels, sneak peeks, etc. However, that doesn’t mean that everything related to meet-and-greet and celebrity interactions are off the table. Union members simply aren’t able to participate in anything that promotes or is organized by the studios and production companies that are on the other side of the strike. 

A common question pops up: What does that mean for convention attendees? What can we do or should we not do when we see our favorite celebrities at events or “in the wild.” 

 

Here’s a helpful guide for navigating this convention season. 

• DO purchase tickets and attend events where celebrities are still appearing. Even if you want to show solidarity with the strike, these events still help support the writers and actors. If they are there, you can bet that they’ve worked with their agents and other representatives extensively to ensure they’re in compliance with the strike rules. Your attendance shows your support! Their primary job is on hold, so these appearances are important to them as if a part-time job while they are laid-off. 

• DO remember to bring with you any article you wish to have signed that might come from any current in-theater work or other projects that are affected by the strike. The convention guests will be able to sign something YOU provide them, but they won’t have merchandise or photos at their booths or panels reflecting any of the work that is affected by the strike. (Keep in mind that anything from struck-work is up to the discretion of the individual celebrity whether or not they’re willing to sign an item - but the SAG rules allow it as long as THEY don’t provide the item themselves.)

• DON’T get upset if the guest you are seeking an autograph from doesn’t have a photo or merchandise available from your favorite project, if it was covered under “struck-work” or if they don’t want to sign the item you have brought with you. Some members of the WGA or SAG-AFTRA might feel like it is an ethical stand to avoid ALL dealings with the productions that are involved with the strike. The strike rules leave it up to their discretion so they are able to decline if they choose. Save it for another future date after all of this is resolved. Maybe ask their agent or handler if there is an address you can send an item to at a later date after the strike is resolved - though, this is a long-shot and they may not be willing to accept the liability for your item.

• DO feel free to ask your burning questions about general topics “such as about [their] process, why [they] wanted to be an actor, what [they] like/dislike about working in the industry, and the like..” (Direct quote from SAG-AFTRA strike appearances FAQ)
   
  

• DON’T ask about topics that cover “struck-work” (or at least try to avoid doing so) - i.e. any production made/produced by any of the companies involved in the strike. I know this might be harder to remember in the moment, but it helps avoid an awkward moment where the guest has to either decline to answer your question or has to dance around the topic. (i.e. movies or TV shows currently In-Production, soon to be or currently in theaters, etc. like Deadpool 3 or Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse, and so on.)

• For Cosplayers - if you are wanting to show solidarity with the strike, DON’T dress up as a character from any of the struck-work. If you’ve been working all year on a theme or costume, it’s absolutely acceptable to continue with your plans to wear it - however, if you have an optional back-up costume that is from a non-struck concept, then consider that costume instead. Cosplay as a character from a struck-work (i.e. Deadpool, Spider-Man, Superman, any Marvel character, etc.) is technically considered promotion of that work. The SAG-AFTRA strike FAQ does allow for this contingency regarding photo-ops etc. so you’re not going to get anyone in trouble if you wear a struck-work related costume. 

• DO feel free to discuss the strike with an open mind and with information from trusted sources if celebrities/guests are willing. Keep in mind that the big companies that the strike affects own some of the big-name media outlets that provide news content regarding the strike. Make sure your sources are neutral or are directly from the WGA or SAG-AFTRA sites. Actors, writers, and artists may be willing to discuss the strike to broaden the reach of its message - just remember to keep things civil. 

• DON’T complain about the strike and the rich celebrities in the picket lines around celebrity guests. Remember that the strike isn’t about the A-List actors and ultra-famous writers, etc. The strike is about fairness for everyone else behind the scenes of the productions. It’s for the actors that get paid practically nothing for a single recording session and then have their likeness and voice used in EVERY episode of a long-running TV show without any further compensation - and situations like that.

All that being said, you might be wondering which studios and production companies are involved in the strike, and thus how to determine what is “struck work” and what isn’t. Tvtropes.org has put together a useful list that outlines the organizations within the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). You can find that here.

I am looking forward to August and my annual Geek’d Con experience and I am wishing the best to all convention attendees this year. The best advice I can give for the unusual circumstances resulting from the strike is to simply go with the flow, and lets support the creative souls that bring us our favorite shows, comics, books, movies, and art!

 

Revisiting Personal Cinematic Landscapes - Introduction

Pic created using www.freepik.com

I wrote a series of articles in 2018 explaining the importance of identifying our own personal cinematic landscapes.
 
The general cinematic landscape includes movies that objectively matter to all widely consumed media and society as a whole. Regardless of how they make you feel, personally, they have unquestionably shaped the movies we see today. You may not be a fan of musicals, but West Side Story (1961) still represented one of the most famous works of Shakespeare and brought it to a whole new generation in an accessible way. It changed how people looked at musicals, and how they were presented to the public. You may find Citizen Kane (1941) boring next to the movies of today, but it still offered a brand-new method of cinematography that awed the movie world when it was released. Maybe superheroes aren’t your thing, but Iron Man (2008) rebirthed a whole genre of films and altered the expectations of both audiences and Hollywood. 
 
Whatever your personal opinion, every bit of that is a fact. The National Film Registry is where you can find a list of movies that audiences and critics have voted to preserve because they are deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It’s not about whether the movies are good or bad. It's just about their importance. It was set up as a part of the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 and includes films going as far back as 1891. Most of which you can find on various streaming services and YouTube.
 
When I talk about a personal cinematic landscape, I’m not referring to those films.
 
Just as the movies in the National Film Registry have affected society and film, our personal cinematic landscapes affect the way we see other movies. Although 12 Angry Men (1957) is a harrowing and impressive film that is still very much relevant today, it’s not going to mean anything to someone who’s never seen it. On top of that, remakes and reboots may speak louder to newer generations because they're updated to represent our current reality.

 
A personal cinematic landscape can’t be argued against because it’s completely subjective. It’s all about how a person feels. It’s about what they like and what they’ve experienced. The movies that come to make up their personal mosaics of cinema will undoubtedly shape what they look for in other films.
 
It’s why no two critics have the same exact perspective on the same film.
 
I know that I like creature features. I grew up on Jurassic Park (1993) and Jaws (1975). When I saw the trailer for Sharknado (2013), I knew it’d be nowhere near as good as those, but I also knew it’d be fun for me to watch. My best friend, however, hates creature features. He tolerates Jurassic Park, but will not even try to sit through Jaws. I cannot describe the level of eyerolling he gave me when I turned on Syfy to watch a tornado full of sharks.
 
Neither of us were wrong. Our experiences with previous films guided us on how to react to that movie.
 
We’ve been over most of this, even though it’s been a while. What we’ve never talked about is just how much a personal cinematic landscape can shift over time.
 
It’s easy to consider how watching movies new to you might alter how you see things. Since 2018, I’ve watched hundreds of films, some that I’ll never remember and others that have found spots on my list of favorites. What people tend to forget is that what we experience from year to year can change what previous films once meant to us.

 
As we get older, we face new challenges and learn. Over the past 5 years, I’ve had a baby, I’ve moved away from the only city I’ve ever known, I’ve gone through at least 3 different apocalypse scenarios… I’ve changed. The world has changed. And so has my perspective.
 
That’s what I’ll be going over in this series of articles. I’m going to revisit my personal cinematic landscape from 5 years ago and see how it’s been altered. I’ll examine why things may be different and how I expect the changes will affect the way I digest films in the future. New movies will be added, and older movies may mean just a little more than they used to. Some of the movies I once felt were incredibly influential to me, may not mean as much. I hope you’ll join me on my journey.

 
Last time, I did many different genres in each article. It made the posts long and a bit difficult to follow. This time around, I’ll narrow my focus to one genre at a time. I’ll also go over some new genres that I didn’t touch last time. It will take a while to go through them all, but with the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike going on, we’ve got nothing but time. I’ll be posting at least one genre per week and, depending on what else we post, possibly more.
 
I’d love to know what your personal cinematic landscapes look like and how they compare to mine. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know!
 
The first of the articles will be posted on Wednesday, July 19 at 6pm EST. We’ll be kicking it off with the action genre.

The WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike

With SAG joining the WGA in their strike, all film and television production will cease. Actors are encouraged not to promote their finished work, show up to conventions, etc.
 
What does that mean for us at Trust the Dice?
 
We’ve always supported the strike, which started back in May with the WGA. Despite that, we’ve continued to write reviews and Top 20 lists. We had hopes that reason would win out and companies would just agree to pay their workers. Unfortunately, a studio executive has made some straight-up evil comments according to Deadline: “The endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses.”
 
I’ve struggled with what to do about it. As bloggers, we’re not part of the WGA, but as reviewers we rely on the hard work of writers and actors. Not just as entertainment, but as a living.
 
Now that workers are being urged not to even promote finished works, I’ve decided that we need to alter the way Trust the Dice is handling the strike.
 
We do have specific deals in place for reviews this month. It’s unavoidable. At the end of the month, if nothing changes with the strike, we will be altering our content. At least until there’s a resolution.
 
Trust the Dice will pause all reviews and promotion of upcoming films. We will still post, however. Those posts will include Top 10s about various subjects featuring films and TV but will not include anything about upcoming releases. I truly hope that you all will enjoy the new content on Trust the Dice. If people enjoy it, we will weave it into our usual stuff once the strikes are over.
 
Support the writers and actors that you’ve relied on for your entertainment and escape purposes. Do NOT cancel your streaming services, though. Watch movies and TV shows as much as possible. That's what the guilds want for the time being.
 
Good luck.

UPDATE: Upon further deliberation, I've decided that we will not finish out the set schedule we had for the month of July. We will be pivoting our content immediately, with the first post being Monday at 6pm EST. We hope you enjoy our new content as we support the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike by stopping promotion of all new film projects. (It is possible that we will be able to continue reviewing the smaller, indie films that are not involved with big production companies. If so, we will include those.)