Jessica Chastain Advocates for Indie Film Support Amidst Strike: Emphasizes Union Solidarity (Video)
During a press conference at the Venice Film Festival for Michel Franco’s “Memory,” Jessica Chastain passionately urged fellow actors to actively back their union by producing and promoting indie films under SAG-AFTRA’s provisional agreements.
Admitting to feeling “incredibly nervous” about her presence at Venice in support of her latest dramatic venture, an emotion she candidly shared on her social media, the Oscar-winning star of “Eyes of Tammy Faye” expressed that this endeavor stands as one of the primary avenues the actors’ union advocates for to advance their cause for equitable terms with the film industry’s major studios.
“I was incredibly nervous to be here today and to come here — and there are some people on my team who advised me against it,” she said.
Chastain went on to contemplate the prevailing sentiment among performers, who, due to the fiercely competitive nature of the industry, often find themselves appreciative of any success, consequently leading to a hesitancy to challenge established authority.
“I’m fortunate — I know how lucky I am. It’s a wonderful profession, what we get to do as actors, and we are often made to feel like we have to be quiet to protect future working opportunities,” Chastain said. “And we are often told and reminded how grateful we should be. I mean, that is the environment that has allowed workplace abuse to go unchecked for many decades, and it’s also the environment that has saddled members of my union with unfair contracts.
“I am here because SAG-AFTRA has been explicitly clear that the way to support the strike is to post on social media, walk the picket lines, and work and support interim agreement projects,” she continued. “It’s what our national board, negotiating committee, and elected leadership have asked us to do.”
Chastain acknowledged the filmmakers and producers in attendance at festivals like Venice, who have entered into such interim agreements with the union, demonstrating their endorsement of the dual strikes’ objectives.
“When independent producers like the ones here of these films sign these interim agreements, they are letting the world know, letting the AMPTP know that actors deserve fair compensation, AI protections should be implemented, and there should be sharing of streaming revenue,” she said. “And so I hope being here today encourages other independent producers and encourages actors to show up and support our union members. And hopefully, we’ll see an end to this strike soon, and hopefully, the AMPTP will return to the table.”
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