Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that massive strikes are going on in Hollywood right now. While the Writers Guild of America went on a strike in May of this year, the Screen Actors Guild – AFTRA followed in their footsteps two months later. This has caused Hollywood to come to an abrupt halt and Sarah Silverman has something to say about it.
Sarah Silvermani is an American comedian who has been a part of projects like Wreck-It Ralph, Marry Me, and so on. She is in complete and total support of the writers and actors who are on strike to have their basic demands met. While many projects have come to a pause owing to the strike, about 45 independent projects are being made at the moment. This has infuriated Sarah Silverman who posted a video bashing this only to get clapped back at by Zooey Deschanel.
Sarah Silverman Blasts Actors Working on Independent Films
Taking to Instagram, Sarah Silverman openly criticized her fellow actors who have been taking up independent projects that have apparently been cleared by the SAG-AFTRA. The forty-five “truly independent” films and shows include actors like Anne Hathaway, Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, and more. These projects have been granted exemptions under the Interim Agreement.
From Silverman’s rant, it is quite clear that she does not stand in support of this. She stated,
“I feel f*cking pissed off and I know I just must not be understanding something…There are like forty movies being made right now. Movie stars are making movies because they’re independent movies, and SAG is allowing it because if they do sell it to streaming, it has to be because streaming is abiding by all the things we’re asking for. That’s just working.”
Silverman also worries that the strike will be “exponentially prolonged” because of this as films are continuing to be made despite many actors being on strike. She added that SAG-AFTRA joining the strike was a major setback for studio productions as they possibly cannot make films without actors. It was a huge win for those on strike. However, according to Silverman, none of that means anything anymore if actors continue to work, even in independent films.
“So, you’re just letting people make movies, and movie stars are making movies that you know the goal is to sell them to streaming. When SAG joined the strike, it’s, ‘Movie stars aren’t making movies for you anymore, now what are you going to do?’ Well, they’re making movies. What the f*ck?”
Silverman went on to put on record that she, too, had been offered a part in an indie film but she refused out of respect for the strike, and so did many of her friends.
Zooey Deschanel Claps Back at Sarah Silverman
Silverman’s post was met with a ton of support, both from actors and fans who are of the same belief as the comedian. However, there are always two sides to a debate, and actress Zooey Deschanel was on the opposite team. Deschanel, who is widely known for her role in New Girl, wrote,
“I think we are striking certain particular contractual agreements with the [AMPTP, the association of major production studios] — not all work.”
Cape Fear actress Juliette Lewis also didn’t support Silverman completely. She diverted the attention toward those who work in the film industry in various other positions and not just actors.
“Also my brother, who is a laborer — I would love him to work on an independent production. Bunch of my friends in other states have had their unemployment checks run out, so if there’s movie productions that are not going to streamers — I’m for it for my crew and family.”
Are you on Silverman’s team and believe that actors should totally give up working, even if the projects are independent? Or are you like Deschanel and Lewis who believe that the debate is not simply black and white?
Source: Instagram | Sarah Silverman
