Unfortunately Serina that’s not the way it works. The Potter actors are part of a larger union, and if the union goes on strike, they will have to as well. Simple as that.

Neil, these films are made by an American studio with American money so they are considered American films.

I can’t really see this affecting filming for HBP. One, although it is an American film funded by an American company with American money, the two main producers (David Heyman and David Barron) are British and the films are not being shot in the U.S.. The only Americans involved in the Potter films is, of course, the studio heads, the executive producers and the screenwriter. It could be a determining factor, but it might not be. (I’m pretty sure the WB has paid Goldenberg and Kloves a pretty good amount to pen the movies, but I’m not sure if they want in on the strike.)

And I didn’t know Jany Temime was from France, I thought she was Belgian. o_O

Michael -

Can you confirm what are the most pressing issues for the unions at the moment? Is it DVD extras, as SueB mentions, and are there other contract points that the general public would not be aware of?

I find this fascinating….thanks for your insight.

This comments section has been the most educational and professional I have ever seen on the site. Good job.

As for the strike…when is the projected finish date for HBP? Surely they will be finished before the summer anyway…

Also, While none of the actors or production staff are apart fo the affected unions, they are stil associated with them, and that is enough in cases like these for them not to cross the picket line, especially since WB is running the show. Had it been a British production house (and I do not know of any who produce such major films), then there would likely be nothing affected…but alas….

First of all, the Writer’s Guild is the first that has their negotiations, which are due around Halloween. If no negotiations are met, they are being told to continue to work until SAG and DGA (Director’s Guild of America) begin their contract negotiations come June 30, 2008.

You have to remember that the acting unions are “sister” unions (In America, that’s Actor’s Equity Association, AFTRA, SAG and AGVA) and they respect the picket lines of their fellow unions, including the WGA, DGA and IASTE. If the US strikes, it could very well affect Britain as many British Actor’s work on American films. It’s more of a respect issue with not crossing the picket line.

Sue is right, too, regarding some of the main issues this time around.

I don’t believe it will affect HBP and not quite sure if it will affect DH, as DH is set to film in 2009. Let’s hope if there IS a strike that it’s negotiated by that point.

i dont think it will affect HBP filming. but DH? gosh, i hope not.

what im waiting for is casting announcements.

we were just discussing this in my Film history course. how odd.

As the daughter of a unionized teacher union here in Canada, my experience is usually that there is a period in which there is notice of a potential strike (nine times out of ten, they usually are averted) while talk between both sides is going on and usually nothing comes of it. If there is a strike, most times they are usually only a couple of weeks and an agreement is come to. Usually its more a threat than anything.

I don’t think that the strike will affect the filming of the sixth or seventh films, as the either wrap up production before a strike would take place or would start afterwards. While the seventh film might have a bit of delay, it probably wouldn’t be enough to delay the actual release of DH.

How can it affect HBP when it will be in post production by then?

i’m sorry but somehow this news bit is wrong. people get paid millions already, and its still not enough for them. the more you get, the more hungry you get too, it seems. and then somewhere else in this world people spend 10/12 hour shifts in factories only to leave with a couple of dollars at the end of the day which isnt even enough to feed their families. I’ve never heard them go on strikes…guess why, cause they dont have job security, or even the right to it. amazing how the system, regardless of name and location, is always protecting the rich, instead of the poor and the needy-which is what it should be doing.

ahhh…the irony of it all….

Fabulous comments! What an education.

I have been hearing about this potential strike for a while.

I just thought of something.

The filming of te actual scenes would be complete before the strike happens (if it happens), but the post production will take all summer next year…that means while principle photography would be complete, none of the special effects or touch ups would be done…

Maybe Potter may run into problems after all…

All else fails I will gladly act, write and direct for free!

LOL @ Lucien! all the more i hope the strike truly won’t affect both HBP and DH films. =) it shouldn’t.

somehow this came to mind… in HBP chap1, when the Prime Minister blustered to Fudge and Scrimgeour that they could do magic!... then Fudge looked at him a lil sadly and replied that the other side (Voldy and his Eaters) can do magic, too.

Thanks to SueB for your enlightening us and insight into the issue. Also thanks to Melisa and others for the extra information on how it affects other parts of the industry, awards, tactics and usual agreements as well as seeing other points of view. It does put this topic into some perspective.

I’m quite sure Dan’s a member of Equity, because I read that the union helped him get a larger payment for the first film – they initially offered something 100,000 pounds or something, but they got it up to 250,000? Yes, I know. Sounds measley, but compared to what he should have been paid for a big budget film it’s pittance. Strikes aren’t all about money. Actors have really long hours, and they have to keep pushing for better conditions – remember, it’s not just big silver screen actors who are members of Equity – small time actors are members too. And think of how bad their conditions are. And as far as post-production goes, if there’s a delay in pre or post production, it will effect post production and push the release of the film to a later date. Hopefully the Unions will work everything out before a strike has to take place. Cheers.