The production of the Hollywood film featuring F1, starring Brad Pitt, has come to a halt due to a strike initiated by a prominent actors union. The movie, which revolves around the fictional team ‘APX GP’ and its drivers, made a significant impact during the previous Grand Prix at Silverstone. To facilitate filming, the crew constructed their own garage in the pit lane. Positioned two show cars on the back row of the dummy grid before the formation lap.
Lewis Hamilton’s production company, Dawn Apollo Films, is responsible for producing the film. With Brad Pitt playing the lead role of Sonny Hayes. However, production has reportedly been suspended as a major actors union. The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), has initiated a strike. This strike is a show of solidarity with the ongoing strike action by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Which began in early May.
WGA Strike and SAG-AFTRA Strike Impact Hollywood
The WGA strike came about after its members voted overwhelmingly to go on strike, as they failed to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Despite the surge in popularity of streaming services and the subsequent increase in international viewership and production budgets for many television shows, WGA claims its members have not reaped the benefits. Over the past decade, the proportion of WGA members working for minimum rates under the previous agreement with AMPTP has risen from one-third to nearly half.
The strike action by WGA has gained support from various quarters, including United States President Joe Biden. Former President Barack Obama, members of the US Senate and House of Representatives. That is over 150 unions and professional organizations worldwide. Notably, the strike has also been endorsed by the International Screenwriters Association. Players associations of major sports leagues such as NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS, as well as the Writers Guilds of Great Britain and Ireland.
In addition to the WGA strike, SAG-AFTRA, representing over 100,000 actors, recording artists, and performers whose work is broadcasted. It has also initiated strike action. Their concerns revolve around reduced income, streaming service royalties, and AI exploitation. The strike has immediately impacted several major film productions, including the untitled F1 movie featuring Brad Pitt. The sequel to Gladiator, and a new installment in the Mission Impossible franchise. The movie’s production crew was scheduled to return to the Formula 1 paddock for subsequent races this year. But the resolution of the ongoing strike will determine their presence.
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