Marvel Star Encourages Talent to ‘Jump Into Indies’ As Strikes Continue
By Movieguide® Contributor
Marvel star Mark Ruffalo is encouraging actors to join independent movies amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
“How about we all jump into indies now?” Ruffalo tweeted. “Content creators create a film & TV-making system alongside the studio & streaming networks? So there is actual competition. Then we just do what we always do — create great content & they can buy it, or we take it out ourselves & WE share in those sales.”
How about we all jump into indies now? Content creators create a film & TV-making system alongside the studio & streaming networks? So there is actual competition. 🧵https://t.co/NhxqlwWUsZ
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) July 15, 2023
The actor also slammed studio executives, which he called “an empire of billionaires.”
“While they hang out in the billionaire boy summer camps laughing like fat cats, we organize a new world for workers,” Ruffalo added. He then elaborated on his call to support indie movies.
He explained, “One sure way to strengthen our hand right now is to become very supportive & friendly to all independent projects immediately. Push every SAG-AFTRA member to join the ones that get SAG-AFTRA (WGA) WAIVERS immediately.”
“The studios have no competition — this will change that,” he continued. “Share profits. If the project does well, everyone does well. This will also help our fellow filmmakers ‘The Crew,’ who we love, to keep working. This is also part of #Solidarity. We have to take care of each other.”
Other actors agreed with Ruffalo’s call to “jump into indies.”
Susan Sarandon replied, “Was just saying this. Didn’t [Matt] Damon start an Indy studio? Exciting time to reorganize, new system.”
Some actors have already shifted to focus on independent projects. SAG-AFTRA approved exemptions for independent studio A24’s MOTHER MARY, starring Anne Hathaway, and DEATH OF A UNICORN, starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega.
ScreenRant explained what these exemptions mean:
“Indie movies that receive such exemptions are required to abide by the terms of the last offer made by SAG-AFTRA during contract negotiations with studio and streamer reps AMPTP. Some of the 39 total films given exemptions are already completed, but are now granted a waiver allowing stars to promote them (studio movies have shut down promotion, and even pulled out of events like SDCC).”
THE CHOSEN received an exemption from the strike. Movieguide® reported:
Despite an industry-wide strike, Lionsgate’s series THE CHOSEN was given a waiver from SAG to continue filming.
THE CHOSEN shared on their Twitter, “Update: Great news! We just received word from SAG that we have been approved for a waiver. We’ll continue shooting on Monday.”
In addition, creator and producer Dallas Jenkins posted a photo on his Instagram which stated, “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.”
He added, “We’re the good guys; we’ve treated your actors well. Please take the few minutes to approve our application so your actors can get back to work getting paid for the last two weeks of a season they want to finish.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the impact the ongoing strikes in Hollywood could have on the entertainment industry:
Barry Diller, former Paramount and 20th Century Fox CEO, believes the current SAG and WGA strikes need to be resolved by September 1, otherwise, the industry will face an “absolute collapse.”
“What will happen is, if in fact, it doesn’t get settled until Christmas or so, then next year, there’s not going to be many programs for anybody to watch,” Diller explained. “So, you’re gonna see subscriptions get pulled, which is going to reduce the revenue of all these movie companies [and] television companies, the result of which is that there will be no programs.”
“And at just the time [the] strike is settled [and] you want to get back up, there won’t be enough money,” he warned.
The Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) went on the strike at the beginning of May due to low salaries and concerns over A.I. in the writer’s room. After more than two months, the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) joined the strike, citing similar reasons.
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