Stars including Brian Cox protest in support of Hollywood strikes

Famous actors, including Scottish star Brain Cox, protested in London’s Leicester Square on Friday in solidarity with striking actors and writers in the US.

The British Equity union held the demonstration which was attended by big names including Rob Delaney, Simon Pegg, Jim Carter, Hayley Atwell and Imelda Staunton.

It comes a week after Equity’s sister union in America, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra), began major industrial action

Actors have picketed the studios of Disney, Amazon, Netflix, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros on Monday as Hollywood’s biggest strike in more than 60 years entered its first full week.

Performers walked out after contract negotiations between Sag-Aftra and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down.

Approximately 160,000 actors are on strike, joining the 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who walked out on May 2.

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It is the first time both unions have been on strike since 1960. The last time SAG members went on strike was in 1980, when the union was led by Ronald Reagan.

At the London rally on Friday, actor Andy Serkis told the PA news agency it is wrong to use AI to undermine the work of actors.

The actor, who is a Sag-Aftra and Equity member, said: “I’m probably one of the most scanned actors on the planet for various different films, and projects.

“I would say I have probably been scanned more than anyone ever.

“I know that my image can be used, or my library of movements, can be used or my voice.

“(It) is wrong that that is easily accessed and used without remunerating the artist.”

Multiple Hollywood stars have been pictured on the picket lines, joining striking members of the Writers Guild of America, who began industrial action on May 2.

In Leicester Square, crowds heard speeches from Delaney and Cox as well as Equity General Secretaries Paul W Fleming and Lynda Rooke among others.

Protesters gathered to hear from the actors and carried signs saying “Leave AI to Sci-fi,” “Write to Strike” and “This Barbie’s last residual was $0.02”.

After the event, Cox told the told how drama-comedy Succession would have been “nonsense” had it not been for the team of writers.

Cox said: “The artificial intelligence thing is a major issue and it has to be nipped before it starts to grow even more.

“It has gotten to a standard now where people are getting avatars of themselves made in order to protect themselves in every aspect.”

Cox also told crowds: “I was on a programme the other night and I was given a list of things that artificial intelligence Brian Cox was going to say.

“Now the artificial intelligence Brian Cox was going to do animal impersonations.”

He added: “Nobody is exempt in this. If you do a performance, if you’re on a film, on a movie, on a TV show, that is where they’ll get you and that’s what we have to stop.”

Speaking to crowds Delaney compared the AMTPT to “silly little toddlers”.

He said: “They brag like toddlers, they have these earnings calls and they talk about the subscriber numbers and the blockbuster numbers.

“Then we asked for a nickel and they were like ‘No, no, we don’t have any’.”