Last week, the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA in Hollywood announced that its 160,000 members are going on strike. One of those protesting against the conditions in the industry is the Swedish actor Anna Dahl. She doesn’t think people outside the industry really understand what it’s like to be in the middle of it.
– A lot of people probably think that you get as much money as you want if you get a lead role or a big role in a production, but that’s not the case, she tells TV4 Nyheterna.
It was on Thursday that SAG-AFTRA announced that it would go on strike after failing to reach an agreement with the television and film companies. Among other things, the actors in Hollywood want to see higher minimum wages and regulation of AI – which they fear could take their jobs.
Now a couple of days have passed since the strike was announced and according to Anna Dahl, who worked as an actor in Los Angeles for four years, the support in the industry is still great.
– There are any number of actors who are going on strike now, and we are all sticking together. You feel very supported, above all by SAG who want to see a change, she says.
Mixed reactions from the public
But while the support among colleagues is great, the public’s view of the strike is divided, says Anna Dahl.
– Many are involved and want to support by unsubscribing from streaming services such as Netflix, HBO and Disney so they don’t get as much money. Then many people say that a strike is good because then many actors will give up – they believe that there are already so many, she says.
– It is positive and negative on both fronts. Many think it’s good and want to support, while others think it’s just as good to get rid of actors.
Photo: Anna Dahl
Photo: Anna Dahl
Incorrect image of the industry
She is of the opinion that there are many who do not really understand what it is like to work as an actor. For example, if you get a bigger role in a production, you often get a lump sum, which is usually not very large.
– As an actor, there is also a lot going on at times. Some months you are fully booked with 16-hour days every day, then several months can go by without you having any job at all – and then you don’t make much money, she says.
– And when you are in a production, you earn nowhere near what the production itself makes.