Despite the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), fans of daytime soap operas can breathe a sigh of relief as their favorite shows will continue uninterrupted. Unlike other television programs, soap operas operate under a separate contract called the net code, allowing actors and employees to fulfill their obligations during the strike. In this article, we will explore why daytime soap operas still need to be addressed by the SAG-AFTRA strike and discuss the creative strategies employed by these shows to navigate the current Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.
With the official strike declaration by the Screen Actors Guild, viewers can anticipate changes in their regular programming. However, daytime soap operas, unscripted reality shows, game shows, and news programs are not subject to the same contract as primetime shows. Although part of SAG-AFTRA, soap opera actors continue to work through the strike under the Network Code (Netcode) of SAG-AFTRA’s National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting.
The Netcode, as The Hollywood Reporter reports, specifically covers unscripted and non-primetime shows, including soap operas such as General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and The Beautiful. These shows have contracts extending until July 2024, allowing them to remain in production for the foreseeable future.
Soap operas are uniquely positioned to withstand the impact of the current Writers Guild of America strike due to their advanced shooting schedules. These shows typically film episodes weeks or months in advance, allowing them to accumulate a stockpile of scripts. Consequently, they can only continue production with immediate reliance on WGA-affiliated writers. Some shows have also enlisted the services of non-WGA scribes, further mitigating the effects of the strike.
While many streaming services will continue to release content, the absence of new episodes of scripted shows will become apparent once the already filmed episodes are exhausted. However, Peacock’s Day of Our Lives falls under the Netcode contract and shoots further in advance compared to the other daytime soaps, suggesting that the WGA strike will likely not affect its production for several months.
Following the strike announcement, General Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn expressed her solidarity with SAG-AFTRA actors in an Instagram post. Grahn explained that while daytime actors support their union’s efforts, they are legally obligated to fulfill the terms of their Netcode contract. Hence, they will continue working during the strike while remaining united.
SAG-AFTRA voted unanimously to declare a strike after failed contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. This strike follows the Writers Guild of America’s strike, which commenced in May. The last time both unions simultaneously went on strike was in 1960, during Ronald Reagan’s tenure as SAG president.
While the SAG-AFTRA strike disrupts various entertainment industry segments, daytime soap operas remain unaffected due to their unique Netcode contract. Fans can enjoy their favorite shows without interruption as soap opera actors fulfill their obligations during the strike. As the strike unfolds, it will be interesting to observe how the entertainment landscape adapts to the evolving demands of the industry and the negotiations between unions and production companies.
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