Despite the ongoing strike by SAG-AFTRA, certain union members can continue working. SAG-AFTRA, consisting of 160,000 strong members, joined the Writers Guild on the picket lines on June 14. However, the union, led by Fran Drescher, has been actively reviewing and granting waivers to independent productions.
“We initiated the application process on the first day of the strike,” stated Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA outside Netflix. “We have already received hundreds of applications, and we are committed to reviewing each one,” he added, emphasizing that projects must not have any association with the AMPTP to be considered for an interim agreement or waiver.
Sources suggest that SAG-AFTRA is expected to release a preliminary list of approved productions, including projects like The Chosen, later today or tomorrow.
“We aim to grant as many interim agreements as possible, as long as the projects are genuinely independent,” Crabtree-Ireland explained during the first week of the union’s strike. “Our staff diligently reviews each application to ensure their independence. We are working as swiftly as possible to process them.”
According to union regulations, independent productions that can prove their non-AMPTP affiliation and wish to film under SAG-AFTRA’s now-expired TV/Theatrical Agreements and related contracts may qualify for an interim agreement to continue their filming activities. Once a new contract is ultimately reached with the studios and streaming platforms, successful applicants will be bound retroactively to the agreed-upon contract terms.
Certain low-budget agreements within the guild, such as the Short Project Agreement, Micro-Budget Agreement, Student Film Agreement, and Independent New Media Agreement, are exempt from requiring an interim agreement or waiver since they are not subject to the strike.
Nevertheless, given the tense atmosphere in Hollywood and the potential for misuse of the agreements, SAG-AFTRA has made it clear that its board has discretionary powers to adjust strike rules and conditions as necessary.
