This past week, Marvel Studios’
Thunderbolts became affected by the strike. According to reports, the superhero story with Florence Pugh as the star will be delayed until the end the strike. Joining the growing list of TV projects affected, J J Abrams thriller series
Duster, for streamer HBO Max (now rebranded as Max), had its shoot in New Mexico shut down until the strike ends after temporary delays caused by set workers’ refusal to cross WGA picket lines. In California, the second season of Jeff Bridges’ drama series The old man
for FX has been suspended until the end of the strike. The California Film Commission (CFC), which oversees the state’s tax incentives programme, has confirmed that half the 46 projects scheduled to begin filming in the next six-months have applied for a ‘force majeure waiver’ that would allow them the option to delay their start dates and still retain their incentives. Waivers may be granted for various reasons, such as “labor stoppage.” According to the CFC’s website, the next allocation period of incentives for television series shooting in California was due to start on June 5, but “may have to be delayed until the strike has been resolved.” Also, in California, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has cancelled its Television Academy Honors Ceremony, scheduled for May 31. The Academy said that the cancellation came “after discussions with the WGA” and “out of respect for those affected by the ongoing labour strike.” The Television Academy Honors is awarded to TV shows that “fuel social changes,” and this year’s recipients include Amazon’s
As we See It
, and Netflix’s
Mo. This week, stars and representatives from other guilds visited the picket lines of the WGA across the country. Colin Farrell, who’s upcoming Max series The Penguin was among the projects temporarily shut down by strike-related strikes, attended a WGA rally in New York.
In Los Angeles, Producers Guild of America president Stephanie Allain and WGA president Meredith Stiehm appeared on a picket in “solidarity with striking writers,” as per the PGA. The PGA is not affiliated with the studios and streaming bodies negotiating body, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The next major strike development is the June 5 deadline for SAG-AFTRA to vote on a striking authorisation before the start of contract negotiations with the AMPTP, scheduled for June 7. The current SAG-AFTRA agreement expires June 30.1001010-AMPTP is currently holding talks with the Directors Guild of America whose contract expires June 30.–
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