#if you really want to understand sag aftra's strike rules

[wowbright]

Ugh.

[clonehub]

SAG officially considers cosplays of current/past media as crossing the picket line as it can be seen as supporting the studios they're currently striking against.

(link is to a series of tweets, which include the original poster of the screenshot directly asking SAG-AFTRA what the rules are for paid/influencer cosplayers who want to support the strike)

EDIT 2 (first edit in tags): the tweet in the OP has been deleted, so I'll be shutting down reblogs on this post just so people don't take the link as a solid source when it no longer exists. For context, the original link was from a content creator who'd emailed SAG-AFTRA about guidance surrounding promos, contracts, and influencers. The response from SAG-Aftra likely wasn't 100% detailed because things were still being figured out. As for more detailed questions such as what counts as an influencer and other really specific questions I've seen in the tags, that's not something I know. Maybe emailing SAG-AFTRA themselves will help, although I can't be sure.

If the original email or the FAQ were confusing to you, it's likely that it's because both were phrased in a way that would be understandable to people who'd be likely to scab, ie influencers under specific circumstances. It's not really geared toward the lay person (which is what the FAQ will make clear by their frequent use of "influencer").

Again, the notes (and frankly the original link itself) have some that this is about influencers specifically. I missed that keyword in the OP (typo). I need people to stop acting like I'm willfully fearmongering and spreading misinformation. I read the full thread. I read the entire FAQ. It's on you if you do neither. At the time of my reading the thread, the FAQ either hadn't been released yet or had just come out. I also need people to stop bringing up Neil Gaiman's Tumblr post when SAG-AFTRA has their own Official FAQ on their strike site.

For the FAQ, it's here. It's about influencers, both union and non-union. Iirc the non-union FAQ has some ways to help that non-influencers can also engage in, like using a hashtag or generally raising awareness.

If you have any questions, please please please direct them to official members of SAG-AFTRA. Email Fran Drescher herself if you somehow can. Regardless, support the WGA SAG-AFTRA strike.

[fans4wga]

Hi! Me again :).

I have some more questions. I’m genuinely trying to understand.

1. What if you directed and wrote a movie? Are you then allowed to promote it, since you’ve directed it?

2. Are you allowed to promote other people’s movies? Is it just limited to your own projects?

3. Are you allowed to respond to casting announcements as an actor? Even when the movie is not coming out any time soon? Or does that count as promoting?

4. This May sound stupid: but let’s just say you’ve been cast in the adaptation for a book and now the strike is happening. Are you allowed to talk about the book on your socials or is that crossing the line? Even if you don’t mention the adaptation?

5. Another stupid question: let’s say that you’ve been cast in the sequel of a movie that came out a few years ago? Are you allowed to talk about the first movie without mentioning the upcoming one?

These are all my questions. Sorry for asking so many, but I’m genuinely interested in supporting the situation and understanding it

These are good questions, no apology necessary :)

The Directors' Guild of America (DGA) is not currently on strike, since they reached a deal with the AMPTP in between the start of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move, to quote Douglas Adams. The DGA deal doesn't really sufficiently address AI or get wage increases to match inflation. So directors can do whatever they want right now. Some DGA members are also dual members with the WGA or SAG-AFTRA—for instance Greta Gerwig (Barbie). As a director she's free to promote the film, though not as a writer. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA might give her some side-eye right now but she's not breaking any rules. Otherwise WGA and SAG-AFTRA on strike cannot do promotion for their stuff, period.

No promotion of struck material as a WGA/SAG-AFTRA member, period. Remember the purpose of the strike is to grind Hollywood to a screeching halt and remind the studios of just how important writers and actors are. The more Hollywood stops working, the more successful the strike.

That probably counts as promoting. Again, the spirit of the strike is to basically stop all work so Hollywood gets reminded of how important the union members are to its basic functions. Strikes are supposed to be disruptive. Members who understand that will refrain from looking for loopholes.

Books aren't struck so I think that wouldn't be crossing a line. But again, members who understand that disruption is the point will not be looking for loopholes to talk about their projects, so hopefully won't do that.

Struck work includes both past and present movies/shows from struck companies (all the American networks, studios, and streamers: 350+ companies but the main ones are Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, NBC Universal, Sony/Columbia, Disney/ABC, CBS, and Fox.) SAG-AFTRA is asking people to not promote/discuss past works either. Again, it's about being as disruptive as possible.

Let us know if you have any other questions or clarifications needed—we're happy to talk the strikes anytime!

[samtheflamingomain]

strike one

As someone whose working life actually started in a union, and a mother (derogatory) who was a union activist (abusers can be outwardly good people blah blah), I have a pretty solid understanding of the ins-and-outs of unions.

I got my first job at 14 in a chain grocery store floral stand. I was automatically in a union. It never affected me until my manager warned me we might be on strike soon. I asked why and he looked at me, fresh out of 8th grade, making less than minimum wage (because it's actually legal to pay students less even though I was working almost full-time) with no benefits and still technically on probation and thus not entitled to the 10% off groceries card that came with the job and remembered volunteering to take my mothers' cart thru the checkout to get us that 10% off till I did get my card, and this is a run on sentence for good reason. He said, "I can't give you a good reason."

"Can you give me *a* reason?"

"Full-timers are holding out for a health care insurance increase." Oh. Okay. I'm a child and don't understand 85% of those words.

Luckily we didn't strike, but looking back, I completely disagree with his initial statement. He *did* give me a good reason - or at least a fairly decent one. For 2007, downright progressive.

But a few days pass and next time I see him I ask my manager about it and he says not to worry [about the strike, not about him], we made a deal. To me this sounded kinda shady, because I'm a child and have only heard the term "make a deal" used on CSI when someone is getting stabbed etc. I asked what the deal was.

"We got 85% [health care] coverage." Oh, that's good. The more the better, right? I'm a child.

He looks at me as if I'd just spoken tongues. "Why would you even care? It doesn't affect you, you're technically part-time [and thus not entitled to ANY health care]?"

Maybe now's a good time to say that he's a boomer. The concept of someone actually wanting someone else to have something they don't have genuinely shocked him.

I think it's also the time to mention that I'm Canadian - when we bargain over health care, we're talking eyes/teeth/mental health care - all should be included but they're not.

"Because... everyone should have full health coverage?" It just sent him.

I may have mentioned that I was a kid through all of this - because even as a marginalized class of worker, I still held solidarity with the people in my department.

Now, I'm a cook by trade but an artist by passion (and occasionally commission). I work in 2 departments. And even though the SAG-AFTRA are higher-ups and full-timers and I am not, I still hold solidarity.

I fully believe we should ALL support this strike, but I'd like to appeal to the artists among us, and the creative within all of us:

If any of us ever want to be fairly compensated for art - generated by a human with a soul and passion - we have to support "higher ups" getting fairly compensated for same.

Remember how I said I was a kid earlier? And I came to that ~incredibly enlightened~ position? Yeah, it was a kid just shoehorning the concept of "union bargaining" into "The Golden Rule". Because it doesn't take a lot of thought to show our work on that exercise.

It really is that simple. Treat the writers and actors the way you, a hopeful fiction writer or a local theatre actor, or you, an Etsy jewelry maker or custom portraiteer, the freelance taxedermist, the for-hire graphic designer, would like to be treated. With, at minimum, fairness.

The situations aren't 1:1, and of course I'm in favor of all of us getting a fair deal, if we want to set a precedent, now has never been a better time.

Stay Greater, Flamingos

[wewebaggit]

SAG AFTRA issued a statement in favor of supporting Israel and twitter was going batshit condemning writers and also actors, suddenly the whole support for the strike became empty in ppl's eyes due to the state of politics.

I am unaware of this. As a general rule I'm not a fan of people airing out their opinions or even being expected to air out their opinions about everything under the sun but especially highly sensitive issues such as these for nothing but posturing. That's all. I saw some dumfuck post about history asking you what you did to stop the genocide. Keep your answers ready or whatever. And I'm like. Tell me what you did apart from a stupid Tumblr post abt your (not really) bleeding heart.

Mine may be an unpopular opinion but I do judge people who make it so that expressing their opinion on each and every sensitive issue of the day in public is their whole personality and making it a metric of judging people but most importantly propping themselves up.

If you're not out there doing shit then you aren't doing shit. Period. Please don't delude yourself into thinking that a name.txt post is you contributing towards the cause. Get off the high unicorn.

If SAG-AFTRA has done this, it's yet another incident of sticking it in the wrong place. Not everyone has the bandwidth of understanding everything. In fact, no one has that. And sometimes shutting the fuck up is good and recommended.

There's no need to add to the cacophony. As could be seen earlier more was made of what a celeb says instead of idk devoting that time to asking themselves what they did to stop the genocide for their history test or whatever.

My anger has and always will be for people wearing causes like designer bags. In this season, out the next. You're cool if you're wearing it and fuck off if you're not on it yet. How dare you.

That's what's happening. That is the long and short of it. I too have been a part of this posturing crowd in my youth but it was stupid then and it's stupid now. (I talk about myself preemptively answering any ask that may try to counter me on this daftest of points.)

The changing of the profile picture, the hashtags, they do nothing. If you're not converging with black armbands on the road, it's not a protest. If your work was done as you lay on the bed holding in or letting out a fart it's not work. Activism involves activity. And therefore, idgaf abt the discount slacktivists who tweet or tumble in the way one lies about speaking French on their CV.

Celebrities, non-celebrities, organisations not in the service of serving the cause, etc. can all go fuck off. An opinion is an opinion and it may be right or wrong. But it cannot take precedence over reality. You hate someone's opinion - then you want to hate them - but no you want them to first learn and apologise - and yet you want to hate them - or maybe you don't - and that will be your personality for a while. And guess what the issue was never what one fucker thought about something. The issue was always that *something*. And that something wasn't glamorous enough a 100 years ago and it isn't now.

We'd much rather engage in debating a reaction to a thing than understand that in the grand scheme of things a right and a wrong opinion both hold the same weight of a grand total of nothing. Because none of us is DOING anything. Poseurs the whole lot of us.

SAG-AFTRA put out a statement. Did it take a vote of its members to see if they agreed? If they took a vote was the vote split published? Why does an opinion on a geopolitical conflict have any bearing on the demand for better working conditions of members in an entirely different geographical location and vice versa?

Right now. At this moment. I could be pro either party or neutral or whatever and it would do nothing for nobody. Zilch. Anyone feeling otherwise about their own opinion is STUPID.

The witchhunting never stopped. We have more candidates that qualify for being witches and even more witchhunters now. And that's the main sport. That's the cause. Everything else is in assistance of. At least on twitter. N I guess even Tumblr now.

Before any asshole chimes in, I'm not talking about people doing the work. I'm talking about people who think they'd be deemed mute if they don't speak for once.

So I don't care for the opinions of anyone who's not a man on the ground. I just don't. Neither should anybody tbh.

I hope this also answers that other ask someone sent. I'm not attaching it here. But ya.

Also to my anons: ma'am this is an ST blog. Please.

[lol-jackles]

I can't give a link but it's been said several times at cons by Jared that now would be a great time to talk about what to put in a revival, but due to the strike they can't. I understand why they can't audition (but they wouldn't be for SPN) and I understand why writers can't be involved (so leave them out), but why can't Jared and Jensen sit and talk out their expectations? I really think being face to face and blunt is the only way Jensen listens to anyone but himself unless legally required

Could any of my readers send me the link of Jared wanting to talk about the SPN revival?

If I understand you correctly, you want Jared and Jensen to sit down and talk to each other about the SPN revival? Sure, nothing is stopping them from doing that privately. The overreaching SAG-AFTRA strike rules prevent them from talking about it publicly because it would somehow count as "promotion".

[rebeccalouisaferguson]

Several Swedish stars are affected by the American actors' strike. TT has spoken to three of them, including "Mission: impossible" current Rebecca Ferguson.

-It's a bit like the rug has been pulled from under the feet, she tells TT.

Among the 65,000 acting members of the SAG-AFTRA union going on strike are big names like Meryl Streep, Matt Damon and Ben Stiller.

Swedish actors, directors and producers working in the US will also be affected. Rebecca Ferguson, who currently acts as an actor in, among other things, "Mission impossible: dead reckoning part one", received the message with confusion.

-I have found out that it is official, but I have not received any rules yet. The only thing I know is that it's a strike. It's a bit like the rug has been pulled out from under the feet, says Rebecca Ferguson to TT.

-I have never been involved in this. All of a sudden it comes to a head, and I don't really have a clue. I have rarely read the contracts or been involved in union negotiations, but I want to be able to understand it.

Mixed feelings It is often a requirement to join the union in order to be employed, which is a dilemma, says Rebecca Ferguson.

-Being part of a union is one thing, but when you can't fight for the issues you want and ignore the issues you want, it's always difficult. I feel irritated and angry, but also happy that it is happening. We must have changes.

translated from swedish for @rebeccalouisaferguson

[kickstarter-promotion]

Another Amazing Kickstarter (Life Sliding | Book to Film) has been published on http://crowdmonsters.com/new-kickstarters/life-sliding-book-to-film/

A NEW KICKSTARTER IS LAUNCHED:

Have you ever had an identity crisis?

     Life Sliding centers around an affluent teenager, who discovers the  harsh realities of life. A film for everyone, even those beyond the adolescent years.

     “A heart has many rhythms. A beat when we’re happy. A beat when we’re sad. A beat when we’re stressed or mad. Sometimes, those beats can stop.”

*Please note: The talent or anyone associated with production of this reel are not implicated as attached to this film project or associated with this fundraising campaign.    

     AS GAVIN’S JUNIOR YEAR comes to a close, he faces an inner conflict with his status as the most popular kid in high school. It’s not lost on his father, who sensed for some time that his overly indulged son needs redirection. Making matters worse for Gavin, his dad sends him away for the summer to assist at a camp for children with special needs.     

     Arriving at camp Life Me Up, Gavin is suddenly forced to dabble in a world less familiar. After his first uncomfortable encounter with a strange girl with multi-colored fingernails, who refuses to waiver his arrogant behavior, Gavin comes face to face with a person from the past, which leaves him uneasy. Inevitably, three people clash and collide, but when tragedy strikes, they come to an understanding regarding their differences.     

     Becoming a young adult, Gavin faces a summer of harsh lessons in reality. Once he crosses the bridge from a self-inflicted prison to the road to freedom, Gavin and his new friends implement a strategy to stir up the social order when they return to school in the fall. Because of one jaded person jumping to conclusions, the plan backfires. Will they be able to survive the fallout of what they’ve put into motion? #LifeSlidng 

     When I viewed the final edit for the Life Sliding trailer, I asked myself two questions. First, should I sell the film rights? Second, should the co-producers of the reel and I bring together a talented team and produce a feature length film. After many hours of deep consideration, I came to a conclusion.

      First, understand that since I put the first word of Life Sliding on paper it has been five years. After hundreds of rejections from major publishers because the story didn’t reflect some futuristic world where people are divided in districts or entertain vampires who have endless supplies of money or zombies wandering aimlessly seeking lunch, an independent publisher offered to publish the work. Life Sliding is real life with real issues that young adults face every day, but just as relevant for those beyond those adolescent years.

      Here is the thing – I had an offer for the Life Sliding film rights. After five years, could I separate myself from the characters I had lived with for so long? Did I want to see the story transform into something unrecognizable? Affirming my decision was over 50,000 views of the trailer and the reactions from viewers. My decision was clear. I want to maintain creative control of the story and how those beloved characters come to life. 

     From the first page of a script all the way to the editing room it takes a village of creative people to deliver a feature film to a movie screen. I am asking for you to come along for the ride, participate in backing this independent low budget feature film, which will provide the means to gather the most talented group to deliver Life Sliding to a theatre near you.

       Together, we can break the records currently held for fastest project to reach the goal and the project with the most backers. This project really is in your hands. I’m asking for your endorsement.

Sincerely, S. L. Mauldin  

We are friends now, call me Shannon.  Will you join me for this groundbreaking journey.

You’ll need an HTML5 capable browser to see this content.

Play

       We’re not able to mention some of the team just yet since the directors and acting talent who are seriously considering the project are not officially attached to the film. This is just one hurdle in filmmaking. It’s complicated attaching talent without funding and intricate to secure funding without talent attached. With you on board, we can make the phone calls and welcome them to the Life Sliding production team. IMDb.

All funds will be used to employ talent, a production team and the cost associated with creating a feature film.

     As of now, 50% of the locations are secured.  The film will shoot just north of Atlanta, GA. The sets include a camp, a house and a coffee shop.  A hospital, a hair salon, a thrift shop and a parking lot is currently being scouted.

Camp Lift Me Up | The Home

     To minimize the cost of production, we have secured two properties directly across the street from each other. One property will serve to cover any scenes requiring  bedrooms, a kitchen or exteriors house shots. Within walking distance, the other property will function as mock up Camp Lift Me Up.

  The mock up Camp Lift Me Up and the home are potential set visit as stated several of the pledge categories.

In the  pictures above is the High School that will be named by one backer and the coffee shop where the backers of three different pledge levels will appear: background characters, a barista, and a singer or band. 

The mock up Camp Lift Me Up.

   A Twitter Follow From @LifeSliding  and a Shout Out to over 50K Followers. Added to a Private Facebook Film Production Group with access to updates directly from the film set.

  In several of the pledge levels the book and its Kindle Format is listed as rewards. The audio version of the book is in production and we hope to add this as a choice once it is available.

        A professional graphic artist will design our two Official T-shirts. The shirts will be printed on the highest quality fabric. One  shirt will read, “I helped make the movie Life Sliding,” and the other will be the official shirt worn in the film set at Camp Lift Me Up by camp counselors and the children attending the camp.

  This version is only available to Kickstarter backers.

This is the poster we created for trailer. We’ll post the Official Movie Poster and the Concept Art once the artist has the work complete.

A bound shooting script rewarded at several pledge levels.

8×11 Hardcover Photo Book. Archival quality paper with semi-gloss finish and perfect bound.

Here is an example of the storyboards used for the trailer. A new set of boards will be created for the feature film. The newest editions are a part of the pledge awards listed to the right. Each panel will be numbered and signed by the artist and comes with a letter of authenticity from the executive producers of Life Sliding.

  The slate for the film will be awarded to one (1) Backer. The slate will be professionally mounted in a shadow box and the data from the very last scene will remain on the slate. The mounted slate will come with a signed letter of authenticity from the producers.

  A New Camp sign will be created with more flare by a professional designer and can include you as the sponsor as mentioned in one of the pledge categories to the right.

    Share the Link. Tweet it, blog it, twist it, feed it – Shout it from the Mountain Tops

              Risks and challenges

• This fundraising campaign is all subject to applicable Kickstarter rules/regulations, movie guild rules and applicable law.

•Film production is a business with a lot of unknown factors. It begins with a script, then, assemble a team of industry professionals, secure insurance, and make contingency plans. It’s impossible to guarantee everything will come together exactly as planned, Regardless, we will generate an outstanding film. Thank you for being a part of this team and taking this incredible journey with us!

• Life Sliding does not have a distributor attached. We do have an open and ongoing dialogue with a reputable distributor, who is considering the project. Funding nears us closer to sealing deal.

• The goal is to debut the film in either Atlanta, Los Angeles or New York City.

• For those of you visiting our set, we anticipate shooting in June 2017. If the unforeseen happens, this has the potential to change. We will keep you updated so you can plan ahead to visit us.

• If you pledge and are rewarded a non-speaking or speaking role or a Background Character aka Extra, you must be a US citizen or have a US work visa, and not be a member of SAG/AFTRA.

• You must be over 18 or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to attend the private dinner, meet and greet, the film premiere or visit the set. Background Characters aka Extras must also be over 18 or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to the set.

• Some rewards may require additional paperwork. If you are appearing in the film, you will have to sign a release and / or any other necessary legal documents.

• All shooting locations are subject to change for a variety of reasons, including the amount of money we are able to raise and the particular locations giving us the right to shoot.

•Your Child – Their Art pledge.

1. It will be your responsibility to deliver the artwork to us by Mail in a timely manner.

2. You must include return postage paid packaging if you wish to have the artwork returned and there are no guarantees the art will make back to your procession, but we promise every effort will be made to protect and return the art.

3. By pledging, you grant ALL rights for the Life Sliding Production Team and its officers and employees to use the artwork in the film and make use of a photo of the artwork in /on any social media forum, website, blog, or other.

4. By pledging you /your child state that the artwork is yours/ your child’s and you / your child own the copyrights. The artwork cannot exceed 8 inches by 10 inches – 8X10. The Life Sliding production team, its officer or employees are not liable for lost mail or artwork.

5. No politics and anything offensive or in bad taste as deemed so by this production.

• When will the various items be shipped and/or available?

-Twitter follows will begin upon campaign completion.

-Twitter shout outs will begin upon campaign completion.

-Private Facebook Group Adds will begin upon campaign completion.

-Thank you banner post will begin upon campaign completion.

-Instagram follow.

*We intend to have massive follows, shout outs and banners to do so, be patient.

-Updates will begin in the Private Facebook Group immediately and likely continue from now, through the premiere and until the film channels down to network TV.

-The Early Bird Special II – The Kindle Format of Life Sliding will begin being emailed out immediately.

-PDF of the Basic Script will be emailed after the premiere. PDF of the Shooting Script will be emailed after the premiere. The Bound Shooting Script following the premiere of Life Sliding.

-Appear as a Background Character, Barista, Singer / Band, Non-speaking role, Speaking Role between late May – June 2017.

-Any combinations of Official Soundtrack or (1) song digital download will be emailed after the premiere of Life Sliding.

-Both T-shirts versions will ship shortly after the Kickstarter campaign ends. We need to get your size, delivery information and print the T-shirts and obviously package the shirt for shipping.

-The digital download and physical copies of the Film and Behind the Scenes Documentary will be emailed following the premiere of Life Sliding.

– The Private Film Premiere Event(s) date(s) to be determined. Event to be held in Atlanta, GA with expectations of expanding to other cities.

-Your Child – The Artist – on the date of the film premiere. Photos of the artwork to appear on social media as soon as it arrives on set and is photographed.

-Postcards from the edge of the set. As soon as the cast assembles, signs, and someone drops them in the post office box.

-Physical Copy of the book, unsigned- as soon as the campaign ends. Signed Physical Copy of the book will be mailed as soon as the cast / author can sign them.

-The Official Movie Poster signed or unsigned will be mailed just prior to the film release.

-Cast photos and production stills will be mailed as soon as they are available.

-Cast Confession video will be recorded, emailed and posted a.s.a.p.

-Mounted Movie Poster, signed or unsigned will be mailed just prior to the film premiere.

-Q & A via Skype or Facetime with Cast or Executive Producers will happen from late May – June 2017 – we will attempt to work around your schedule.

-Official Props and Storyboards will be mailed the moment the production is finished using them on the set.

-That’s a Wrap Party – Date to be determined.

-Private Dinner with the cast and crew – Date to be determined.

-The Film Slate will be mailed as soon a production wraps and the slate can be professionally mounted.

-Name the hospital or school – will happen almost immediately.

-Spend the Day on the Set – Date to be determined – Between June –July 2017.

-Meet and Greet on the Set – Date to be determined – Between June–July 2017.

-Special Thanks Credit & IMDb Credit. When the film premieres. Will trickle onto IMDb immediately.

-Logo / Product Placement – When the director shouts, “Action.”

-Your Song – The Soundtrack – Date to be determined.

See FAQ for further information.

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[fans4wga]

Thanks, mods, for running this blog and helping folks stay informed and sort through a lot of misinformation/confusion about how to support the strikes.

One thing that I think is confusing a lot of people: the guidelines on what ��influencers” should and should not do are for *influencers who are in SAG* and operating under the SAG Influencer Agreement contract, or have the kind of career where they know they may be eligible to join SAG soon. This is a very small group of people (you have to have an LLC or be incorporated to sign the contract) who are professional influencers as their primary career. It’s not just like, anyone who has a bunch of Twitter followers.

It’s also my understanding that the “no promotions” rule is *for SAG members* (some of whom may be influencers) and specifically involves PAID work. Fan activity like fic, fanart, cosplaying for fun, reblogging/retweeting things about your favorite show/movie (even if those things come from official studio marketing departments) is not what they’re talking about. That’s all fine as long as you’re not being paid by an AMPTP company to do it.

Signed, a non-union sometimes film worker who wants everyone to support the strike but not lose sleep over whether it’s okay to reblog a gifset of your blorbos

Absolutely, and thank you for bringing this up again—it's causing a lot of unnecessary headaches among fans who just aren't the target for those influencer guidelines!

Where it can get confusing is that it's not necessarily paid work, it could also be unpaid work to promote studios, because unfortunately a lot of big cosplay/fan accounts wind up doing unpaid promo work just for the exposure. So SAG-AFTRA is also asking those influencer accounts not to do any promo work, paid or unpaid. But absolutely this doesn't apply to fans doing art and fic.

It was helpful for us to thoroughly read the SAG-AFTRA Influencer Agreement Fact Sheet here. It defines the SAG-AFTRA understanding of an "influencer". Once most fans read that they'll understand that they are not nor will ever count as influencers!

We're really hoping that the vast majority of actual influencers will support the strikes and not scab—and not only because it's the right thing to do to support current SAG-AFTRA members, but also because it's obvious that it will affect their future careers (and potential future membership of SAG-AFTRA!)

[fans4wga]

Is writing fanfic, making fan art, or cosplaying considered scabbing/crossing the picket line?The general consensus online seems to be that it’s okay if you aren’t being paid by any of the struck companies and don’t have any plans of joining either the WGA or SAG-AFTRA (at least that’s the impression I got), but what if you might want to join either organization someday? It might be a long shot and I totally understand if you don’t really have an answer because the rules of making/consuming fan content during a strike seem pretty ambiguous at the moment, but I’d really appreciate any information you could give me! Thanks!

Hello! In most cases no, it's not scabbing. Fanfic especially is safe because it's not monetizable or ever used in studio marketing.

Fanart and cosplay can be trickier because they can be used as an arm of studio marketing—think about the phenomenon of popular fanartists being contracted to create art to promote a new season of a show, or cosplayers officially partnering with brands to do cosplays of characters to promote a show. In cases like that where influencers meet SAG-AFTRA's definition of a social media influencer, fanart/cosplay might be scabbing!

Here's SAG-AFTRA's definition of an influencer, right from their website:

"Influencers are popular content creators who have amassed a social media following that they capitalize on by making deals with advertisers to promote brands through the Influencer’s creative content which they distribute through their social media feeds.

Influencers exhibit their content through personal feeds on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, SnapChat, Pinterest, etc.

Followers can range from a few hundred to a hundred million

This provides a “one stop shop” for advertisers:  The Influencer provides performance, stills, posts, production, creative, editing, directing, lighting, distribution, etc.

Agreements between Influencers and advertisers vary significantly. There are no set rates and other terms can be very different as well."

Your average Tumblr user is not an influencer and can't scab because you're not remotely affiliated with the industry, and couldn't really be seen as doing marketing for the studios. So a good rule of thumb is not to do anything that could fall under the influencer agreement! But regarding your question, fanfic is totally in the clear, and fanart/cosplay is a case-by-case basis.

If fanart/cosplay is something you do a lot of, and you're wondering how to keep up content on your account, one idea is to focus on fanart/cosplay of non-US shows/films with no association with the struck studios, or switch to books/audio dramas/comics and other works that are definitely not struck!