By David Nasongkhla, Commentary Co-Editor
Three weeks ago, Hollywood writers returned from a major strike that halted the production of movies and television shows. Thank God.
But, as if Hollywood actors aren’t satisfied enough with the millions they bring in every year, they are in talks about going on strike as well.
I don’t know if I can handle an actor’s strike. Hit shows such as Lost and Saturday Night Live were hit pretty hard by the writers strike. But for those out there, who, like me, follow the teachings of Michael Scott, must be having a tough time waiting for the new episodes of The Office to air since the writer’s strike.
The Screen Actors Guild contract expires in June, and the actors, who, like the writers, want to bring in more revenue with the growing use of the internet, and the potential millions of dollars it holds, won’t renegotiate contracts until those numbers are included into the new contract.
Come on Screen Actors Guild, stop being so greedy. All I’m saying is that you people are making millions and yet you still want more. Just like in baseball, players make millions to play a game but yet they still aren’t satisfied with their income.
I’m sure there are thousands of people, even millions, around the world who would be willing to act for a lot less. Heck, I’d direct, write, shoot, and edit movies myself for a quarter of a million (wink, wink) dollars for each movie.
There’s something to be said about the members of SAG: they just aren’t humble. As much as Brangelina seem to be helping out the third world by adopting one kid from each third world country, they would probably help a lot more by donating a million here and there to various charities.
You know they can afford it. Hollywood isn’t going to let the actors walk, so of course, they will renegotiate the SAG contract in favor of the actors granting millions more. Of course when the next contract expires, actors might be asking for hundreds of millions.
But I guess it all comes down to the dollar. As much as us fans of film and TV hate to see the actors go on strike, it’s easy to forget that even though it started out as entertainment, Hollywood, like everything else, has become a business. And the number one thing that drives a business is money.