10 November 2023
Hollywood actors reached a deal to end their four-month strike this week. But it could take some time before you will see your favorite actors on television and in movies again.
The deal permits many actors, writers and technicians to get back to work. And movies and television programs, such as Deadpool, Abbott Elementary, and The Last of Us, are one step closer to returning.
The writers and technicians approved their contract in September after a four-month strike. The actors still have to vote on the deal that their labor union leaders made on Wednesday.
The full terms are not yet available, but leaders say the new deal includes pay increases of more than $1 billion. It also covers concerns such as pay for streaming video and protections for the use of artificial intelligence in creating video and audio.
The group that represents producers of television and movies said the agreement "represents a new paradigm."
The head of the actor's group is Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. He said the agreement is one "our members can be proud of."
Here are some questions and answers:
What programs will start filming first?
The strike put an immediate stop to the filming of Deadpool 3 with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. That movie and a new Gladiator will likely get back to production first.
In television, shows such as Abbott Elementary, The White Lotus and Yellowjackets should start filming again. Writers for those programs started working when their strike ended earlier this year.
However, some films and television programs recently announced delays. They include Yellowstone with Kevin Costner and the next Mission Impossible movie.
What other changes are coming?
Actors who were on strike did not sit for interviews or talk about their movies and television shows. As a result, some movies did not get a lot of marketing.
One of the actors in the new movie Killers of the Flower Moon is Lily Gladstone. She will now be able to talk about her big role in the movie which also includes Leonardo DiCaprio.
What about the big awards shows?
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, will be back on as usual in 2024. The awards shows will run from mid-January through early March.
Are there any more strikes ahead?
Some strikes could come in the future. Actors who work on video games have approved a strike if negotiations do not work out.
Many actors give their voices and images to video game companies. They are concerned that their voices and faces could be used without their permission in the future.
Another strike could include the people who work behind the scenes in television and movies. Those workers do things such as plan the lighting and create the sets. Their union said its workers have missed out on a lot of money as film and television projects shut down in 2023.
In addition, people who appear on reality television programs such as The Bachelor or The Real Housewives have started talking about forming a union. The people who appear on those programs do not have a labor group and many have talked about difficult working conditions and long days.
I'm Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.
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Words in This Story
union –n. an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and interest of its members
paradigm –n. an idea about how something should be done, made or thought of
interview –n. a meeting at which people talk to each other in order to ask questions and get information
role –n. the character played by an actor
behind the scenes –phrase. the activity and work that goes on to support a creative production such as a play or television show