Matthews acknowledges that theres an infrastructure thats being hurt by the dual strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA.
The people that rent locations, the people that rent gear.
Its a whole plethora, dozens of industries.
‘The Unknown Country’ is among the more than 120 film and TV projects to have received an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRAMusic Box Films
Theyre affected by this, and [this is] a way they could keep working.
Matthews says the union was understanding and helpful and awarded him the agreement within 48 hours.
It feels like a Willy Wonka-esque golden ticket.
However, others say that process was chaotic, and one high-level producer says delays cost them $100,000.
The producer says it was tough to bridge the gap between a verbal agreement and the final pact.
I think theres always going to be some ambiguity there.
Producers have called for clarity on whether negative pickups make a difference.
I am always anxious or starved, if you will, for guidelines.
I dont know what I dont know.
I want more clarity, and then I would of course conduct myself accordingly, adds a source.
I know that deals are very complicated.
We understand the concern that our Interim Agreement may produce content for struck companies to distribute.
There are other complications: SAG-AFTRA has to take into account international law.
The action thriller is produced by MRC for Amazon, which will distribute.
Theyre actually putting it on their [service] and it has Amazons logo on it.
To me, that goes completely counter to what an interim agreement should be.
Its the Wild West, Right?
Its the Wild West, right?
Were all figuring it out as we go along, says Rosen.
And the interim agreement is no exception.
I feel like A24 is kind of in that perfect position.
But it seems like theres only A24 and then theres independently financed films.
Rosen says the interim agreements highlight the issue of what it even means to be an indie production.
I think my knee-jerk response is, its all relative, he says.
Its starting to get really muddled.
I wish that there were maybe some guidelines laid out very, very clearly, says one producer.
It seems like there are just going to be waivers for everything.
Hope for a resolution to the strikes does remain.
