Wondering what television, movies and the stage would be like without actors is hard enough. But San Diego Comic-Con International without actors? That's just outrageous.
But it's a very real possibility, apparently, as the Screen Actors Guild seem geared for a strike just months after the Writers Guild of America ended a 100-day work stoppage that hit Hollywood's bottom line.
The contract SAG has with studios is set to end next Monday, and if the union decides it should strike to help it meet its demands, it would be almost impossible for those very actors to attend Comic-Con to promote upcoming fall projects, reports Collider.
Studios are already gearing up for a possible strike, even planning on doing a lot of its special effects work on some films -- typically reserved for post-production -- ahead of time while money issues are worked out from both sides. Apparently both "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" and "Transformers: Rise of the Fallen" could consider this course.
The only saving grace for actors, outside of both sides striking up a deal or SAG allowing its actors to promote upcoming projects, is that many actors are actually members of a second union called the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. While they are close to a deal with the studios, many of those actors also are members of SAG, thus would be obligated to follow SAG's lead in any work stoppages whether AFTRA comes up with a deal or not.
Frosty, a writer for Collider, said SAG needs to take the lead from both the WGA and the Directors Guild of America.
"With the way the economy is and all the negativity out there in everyone's lives, the Screen Actors Guild needs to work out a deal with the studios and make this dark cloud go away," he said. "While I was a staunch supporter of the Writers Guild and what they fought for, if they've worked out a deal with the studios and the DGA has as well, I'd like to think precedence has been set over new media money and other residuals."
A final schedule has yet to be finalized for Comic-Con, which begins July 23 in San Diego.
Of course, Airlock Alpha will make its first appearance at Comic-Con bringing news straight from the convention floor all that weekend, whether the actors show up or not.
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About the Author:
Michael Hinman is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha and the entire BlipNetwork. He owns Quantum Global Media Inc., the parent corporation of the BlipNetwork. He's a print journalist by day, and lives in Tampa, Fla.
