The SAG-AFTRA actors union has asked its members not to work on Songbird, the pandemic movie from Michael Bay. While movies like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are taking proper precautions over COVID-19, it seems that the union isn't convinced about the safety measures on the Michael Bay movie.
On July 2, the SAG-AFTRA union sent a "Do Not Work" notice to its members about Songbird, saying that the movie's producers had "failed to complete the signatory process and is therefore not signed to any applicable SAG-AFTRA agreement." Members of SAG-AFTRA, which also represents video game voice actors, are "instructed to withhold any acting services or perform any covered work" until "further notice" and said that anyone who does accept work on the movie would be in violation of SAG-AFTRA's rules and could be given "disciplinary action".
In a statement, a SAG-AFTRA representative said that the producers on Songbird "have not been transparent about their safety protocols." Production was set to begin this month in Los Angeles as movie and TV production was allowed to resume in the county with regular COVID-19 testing, cleaning of sets, a COVID-19 safety enforcement officer, and social distancing being conditional.
It's unclear when the movie's cast, which includes Demi Moore and Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor Craig Robinson, will be able to begin filming. Ensuring COVID-19 safety precautions are taken is no small feat, but it will be necessary to protect the health of the cast and crew and not to get hit with a punishment from SAG-AFTRA.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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