British Actors To Strike

Hollywood may have successfully weathered the threat of strike action during negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild this summer, but the British film industry may not prove so fortunate. After a year of negotiations, actor's union Equity has made the decision to pursue strike action over disagreements concerning bonus payments. The union has instructed members to refuse all work on UK productions from December 1. Names like Julie Walters, Simon Callow and Ricky Tomlinson have all pledged their support to the action, which could bring the British film industry to a standstill. Ewan McGregor, also a strong supporter of the move, told BBC Online that he was "tired of making producers and distributors rich while I and my fellow actors are exploited." The strike could have serious implications for a number of upcoming productions including the 20th James Bond movie. However, mortified Harry Potter fans need have no fear of an impromptu end to Harry's second year at Hogwarts. Separate negotiations are being had with Warner Bros to ensure that Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets remains firmly on track. The negotiations concern actor's right's to bonus fees when films are shown on television or sold on video or DVD. At present, unlike their American counterparts, British actors receive a one-off flat fee for their work and receive no additional payment for subsequent screenings. Equity is seeking arrangements similar to those in the US where actors receive monetary rewards relative to the success of individual films.