Viola Davis, the esteemed Oscar winner, has made a firm decision to step away from her upcoming project, “G20,” even though SAG-AFTRA granted the film a waiver that allowed it to commence production amid the ongoing actors strike. In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Davis expressed her love for the movie but emphasized that she believes it would not be appropriate for the production to move forward during the strike. She further conveyed her solidarity with actors, SAG/AFTRA, and the WGA (Writers Guild of America).
The decision comes after the performers union allowed “G20” to proceed with filming, despite Amazon Studios‘ involvement. The film is associated with the non-AMPTP-affiliated studio MRC and is solely being distributed by Amazon. Numerous TV shows and movies have been granted waivers during the actors strike, enabling them to continue or commence production through various interim agreements and designations with independent productions.
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The announcement by Viola Davis is in line with comments made by comedian and actress Sarah Silverman, who expressed frustration with certain projects being allowed to proceed amid the strike. Silverman vented her feelings on Instagram, expressing confusion and anger over the situation. She believed that the strike would pressure studios and streaming platforms to act promptly to reach an agreement with the union. However, with some actors being granted exceptions, she fears that the strike may be prolonged.
Silverman also questioned whether she should be upset with SAG for allowing interim deals for certain indie projects or with movie stars making indie films that are likely to end up on streaming platforms. She likened it to “scabbing,” a term used to describe workers who continue to work during a strike, undermining the collective action. Silverman emphasized that allowing movie stars to make indie films under specific conditions essentially contradicts the purpose of the strike.
The situation highlights the complexity and challenges surrounding the ongoing actors strike and the various exemptions being granted to certain projects. As the strike continues, actors, producers, and industry stakeholders grapple with finding a resolution that addresses their concerns and ensures fair working conditions for all parties involved.