SAG-AFTRA has released some rules for striking actors regarding acceptable and unacceptable costumes this Halloween season, and responses are divided.
After nearly 100 days on strike, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) released a set of guidelines on Oct. 18 detailing what sorts of costumes actors are advised to wear this Halloween, as well as anyone who wishes to support the strike.
Included in the guidelines are costumes “inspired by generalized characters and figures (ghost, zombie, spider, etc.)” or “characters from non-struck content, like an animated TV show.” This means actors could dress up as a vampire, or Dracula from the Castlevania Netflix show, or Dracula from Hotel Transylvania, but not any live-action portrayal of Dracula created under a SAG-AFTRA contract.
The other guideline is not to “post photos of costumes inspired by struck content to social media.” Dressing up as a character from any struck content may unintentionally advertise content from a struck studio, but some are concerned that this eliminates the majority of popular Halloween costumes – not just from new media but old media as well.
Some actors were quick to criticize the guidelines. Ryan Reynolds took to X, formerly Twitter, saying, “I look forward to screaming ‘scab’ at my eight-year-old all night. She’s not in the union but she needs to learn.” A ‘scab’ is a union member who breaks strike rules or continues to work regardless of a strike.
Melissa Gilbert, a former SAG-AFTRA president, also had some words for the union in an Instagram post: “This is the kind of silly b******t that keeps us on strike.” Actor Mandy Moore used the platform to say, “We’re asking you to negotiate in good faith on our behalf… So many folks across every aspect of this industry have been sacrificing mightily for months. Get back to the table and get a fair deal so everyone can get back to work.”
In response to this negative backlash, SAG-AFTRA doubled down, clarifying the restrictions in a statement released on Oct. 20 according to The Hollywood Reporter:
“SAG-AFTRA issued Halloween guidance in response to questions from content creators and members about how to support the strike during this festive season. This was meant to help them avoid promoting struck work, and it is the latest in a series of guidelines we have issued. It does not apply to anyone’s kids.
“We are on strike for important reasons and have been for nearly 100 days. Our number one priority remains getting the studios back to the negotiating table so we can get a fair deal for our members, and finally put our industry back to work.”
Following a week of silence, official negotiations continue on Oct. 24 with major executives: Disney’s Bob Iger, Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and NBCUniversal’s Donna Langley. Contract terms still being discussed include “general wage increases, protections against the use of actor images through artificial intelligence, boosts in compensation for successful streaming programs and improvements in health and retirement benefits.”