If there’s any group that stands up to god in the power stakes, it’s SAG-AFTRA. For all of Hollywood’s many, many issues, the union (which consists of all kinds of media professionals, not just actors) is one of the few labor organizations left that has realistic clout in their industry, even as unionism has been systematically demonized and weakened across the States. SAG-AFTRA are currently showing this power with a far-reaching strike that’s affecting movie and television making on a global scale, and although studio heads have a lot of power to throw about, the union is one of the few organizations that can feasibly take on the immense wealth of the major studios.
However, unlike god, SAG-AFTRA appears to offer some nuance with their decision to strike. As reported by Deadline, today fans of The Chosen received the good news that the 4th season of the show about Jesus was granted a waiver from the union, so that they could continue filming despite the strike. While this is highly unusual, The Chosen is an incredibly unusual show: a large chunk of the budget for the series has been crowdfunded (with a reported $40 million of its budget coming from donations), and all episodes are released for free before being sold on to various streaming services. As a result of its incredibly independent nature (the show isn’t affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) and a few other factors, the Christian historical drama is set to continue filming, despite having many actors in the cast who are part of the union.
Creator Dallas Jenkins was one of the main drivers of the exemption, appealing to the union publicly on Instagram:
“We’ve submitted all the requested paperwork immediately. We fit all qualifications for an exemption. Every day that goes by without your response costs us hundreds of thousands of dollars while your actors are stuck in Utah. We’re the good guys. We’ve treated your actors well.”
The Chosen — which follows Jesus as he begins his ministry — is the first television series to have the strike lifted, although many industry insiders believe that more exemptions will come, especially for independent projects. As a result, this means films are more likely to benefit, as television series tend to be made with studios. The Chosen, and any other project that is granted a waiver during the strike period, agree to be retroactively bound to the contract terms that are agreed with the AMPTP after the strike is concluded.
Despite seeming like such an obvious candidate for an exemption to the strike, The Chosen wasn’t guaranteed to receive one. Although they do not work with major studios to film the show, old seasons of it have appeared on Netflix, Amazon, Peacock, and the CW. So, they have made money in conjunction with the AMPTP. With that said, the 4th season will be released independently, as the other three initially have been, so they aren’t making the studios any money with it. As important as it is for strikers to show solidarity and commitment to their cause, denying an exemption for The Chosen would have been cruel.
The show has been praised for its quality production values and commitment to story telling and character development over proselytizing, like some religious content does. The focus on those around Jesus, and the highlighting of their diversity in backgrounds, has also been a major factor in the series receiving great reviews.
Although it’s the first show to be granted an exemption, Bride Hard, starring Rebel Wilson, was the first film to have received that honor. Regardless of who came first, more are sure to follow. Other popular, studio-led shows that are based outside of the U.S., like House of the Dragon, may also continue to film thanks to U.K.-based workers not being subject to the same rules as their U.S. counterparts. The U.K. is a popular place for studios to film projects thanks to generous tax breaks that were introduced to foster the British film industry.
Although these exemptions have been granted, it is still unclear exactly what the rules are to get one, although broadly speaking you can make an educated guess. The SAG-AFTRA FAQ page for independent producers provides some answers:
“For independently produced content that comes within the scope of a strike order, the producer may qualify for an ‘Interim Agreement’ that would allow such productions to continue working during a strike.”
Additionally, the page confirms that productions that come under the lower budget agreements are not part of the strike, which includes the current Short Project Agreement, Micro Budget Agreement, Student Film Agreement, and Independent New Media Agreement. It also states that the terms of interim agreements will soon be posted – once the organization has confirmed exactly what they are. In the mean time, if productions have questions about whether or not they qualify, they need to contact their assigned union rep, or can contact SAG-AFTRA by email.
If this all sounds a bit confusing, it’s because it is. For example, variety and game shows aren’t subject to the strike, and neither are audiobook readings or soaps, so it’s a wonderful time to be a fan of The Young and the Restless. The guild has sent out information to its members which clearly indicate which contracts can and can’t be struck.
The Chosen is set to resume filming immediately, and while it’s not quite feeding thousands with a loaf of bread, it’s still a pretty miraculous outcome considering SAG-AFTRA’s hard stance.
Published: Jul 17, 2023 09:52 am