Okay.  I've been really trying to avoid dealing with this strike stuff.   Honestly, I have enough on my plate.   Between finishing up the rewrite of my film, starting a commissioned new play, and staying cool in the 100 degree Brooklyn heat, having to confront another strike is the last thing I need. I'd rather sit in Cheryl's Global Soul near the Brooklyn Museum and sip on something nice and iced.  I don't know how to articulate it any louder:   I'm interested in chilling during my rare and spare time, not fretting over an actor walkout. 

For those of you outside the industry, and that probably includes most of you, SAG stands for the Screen Actors Guild.  It's the film/tv actor's union.  AFTRA is its baby brother—the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.  I'm not a member of either.  Although once I had a small role on Girlfriends as a movie theater manager which gave me the option to join SAG, you know, with a 2000 dollar entry fee.  I said, No thanks.  Although I'm still what they call SAG-eligible.

Now the so-called skinny is easy to understand.  A few months ago, SAG and AFTRA were making preparations for their contract renewal.  And like the Writers Guild, their primary concern was New Media.  Now for years SAG and AFTRA have honored a mutual negotiating agreement as far as primetime TV.  Meaning, when it came to contract deals, they would sit together in solidarity against the AMPTP and demand industry respect.   Things got crazy when Doug Allen and his SAG constituency wanted to cut the apron strings from AFTRA.  Why?  In truth, AFTRA made up 50 percent of the negotiating committee when they only represent 10 percent in primetime TV.  Long story short:  SAG wanted to change some things around then had second-thoughts and reneged.  AFTRA, of course, got mad and decided to negotiate without them.  Well, AFTRA cut a deal with the AMPTP on May 28 and now SAG feels any attempts to get a fair contract with AMPTP has been undermined by AFTRA and its weak attempt to be independent. 

I'll tell you what:  I'm not interested in picketing any time soon.  Three months in snow, rain and brutal cold is enough to last a good ten years.  Don't misunderstand, I respect the need to cut a fair deal with AMPTP, particularly when it comes to internet streaming and the use of film clips online. But I'm still a little salty over how the Writers Strike ended.  Three months and then in the very end a decision was made without us.  Many of us felt like pawns.  Puppets, actually.   And that image is certainly gnawing at me whenever I think about this pending strike.

Bottom line, if SAG goes on strike, the industry will, once again, come to a stand-still.  And plenty of my actor-friends are concerned.  They're already feeling the strain from the Writers Guild strike, and they're not alone, many of my writer-friends are feeling it, too.  They still haven't been staffed for the 08-09 TV season yet.  And with the downsizing of black TV shows next season, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game and Lincoln Heights are the only options for easy shoe-in opportunities as far as guest and recurring roles.  Crazy times.  

There's a SAG town hall meeting tonite.  I'll keep you posted.  But if I'm called to march in solidarity with my fellow actors I'll definitely go with clenched teeth and a lot of back-talk.