# The San Diego Comic Con has a small problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2023, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061 "2023-07-15T08:06:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/102 "2023-07-18T15:06:37Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I’m pretty sure they do. Just like Equity has American members. Understood (though I thought Actors’ Equity was a U.S. based union). I didn’t immediately grok the Cumberbatch Sherlock vs. Downey Sherlock distinction that you made upthread. But thinking on it some … it comes down to “100% British production” vs “Production with some British folks and some Americans”. As a generality (question for the house at large) … the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes have limited effect on productions in the rest of the English-speaking world – and that effect largely being dependent on use of American union labor? And this would be about the same considerations for a French production, Bollywood productions, and so forth? No American union labor involved, no problem? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/103 "2023-07-18T15:08:18Z")
The only thing I can say is that, in real life, the people on the front lines can tell the difference even if you can’t. When/If we come across any real life examples of people getting in trouble for wearing a t-shirt with a geeky saying or a Coca-Cola hat, then there might be a real problem to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/104 "2023-07-18T15:39:12Z")
Here is a list of what union members can and cannot do pertaining to this strike: [FAQs About Personal Appearances & Conventions | SAG-AFTRA Strike (sagaftrastrike.org)](https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/cons-appearances-faqs?fbclid=IwAR3lxF41lYWhVChOM4K3d9rpud9oasYyB6gE8vTw1YhBEbXPQkUUyCYwYVY) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/105 "2023-07-18T15:41:57Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > though I thought Actors’ Equity was a U.S. based union [It is.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actors'_Equity_Association) _[Equity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equity_(British_trade_union))_, however, is a British one. > [@bordelond](#): > > it comes down to “100% British production” vs “Production with some British folks and some Americans” It comes down to who the producers and production studios are. > [@bordelond](#): > > No American union labor involved, no problem? Yes, pretty much. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/106 "2023-07-18T15:49:56Z")
Bear in mind that any actor or production company from another country may decide that the U.S. based union is making a good point, and decide not to cross picket lines in support of their fellow actors and/or writers. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/107 "2023-07-18T16:25:56Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Kinda shows a part of why 89.9 percent of Americans say “no thanks” to unions. > **[U.S. Approval of Labor Unions at Highest Point Since 1965](https://news.gallup.com/poll/398303/approval-labor-unions-highest-point-1965.aspx)** > > Seventy-one percent of Americans approve of labor unions. Although similar to last year's 68%, approval is up from 64% before the pandemic. I really wish folks would do the most cursory of research before posting something so precise and so wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/108 "2023-07-18T16:30:28Z")
This is a fascinating subject…i keep thinking of “Whatabouts” but can’t find examples or answers online. i assume the following wouldn’t apply to non sag-aftra actors who don’t plan on becoming SAG. But what about theatrical shows like The Lion King or Finding Nemo? AEA isn’t on strike. What about like Disney cruises? If any actors in those shows happen to have SAG membership do they have to quit their show? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/109 "2023-07-18T16:38:48Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > This is a fascinating subject…i keep thinking of “Whatabouts” but can’t find examples or answers online. The _Washington Post_ ran an informative, short article over the weekend about how the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes might be more or less supported by performers’ unions in other countries. The article can be read free with entry of an email address. Otherwise, I’ve posted something of interest from the article concerning the British performers union Equity (that **Mr. Dibbles** mentioned above, not to be confused with the American theater union Actors’ Equity): > While the unions [_Equity and Canada’s ACTRA_ - db] said they stood with their American counterparts, their ability to strike alongside them may be limited by legal boundaries — including for some SAG-AFTRA members abroad. > > Equity said it had been advised by its lawyers that although the SAG-AFTRA strike was legal in the United States, it is “not lawful under United Kingdom law.” As such, an actor in Britain who joins the strike “will have no protection against being dismissed or sued for breach of contract” by the production company, Equity said. SAG-AFTRA members who were working in Britain on an Equity contract should continue working, Equity said, noting that it was illegal under U.K. law for the U.S. union to discipline them for continuing to work. > > The Canadian union, ACTRA, said it would support the strike “by all lawful means.” > **[Actors unions around the world offer solidarity amid strike](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/14/sag-strike-international-actors-unions-solidarity/)** > > Actors everywhere are facing “long-standing, shared fights” over issues such as residual payments, and new challenges including artificial intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/110 "2023-07-18T16:40:51Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > [U.S. Approval of Labor Unions at Highest Point Since 1965](https://news.gallup.com/poll/398303/approval-labor-unions-highest-point-1965.aspx) > > I really wish folks would do the most cursory of research before posting something so precise and so wrong. From this very fucking thread: > [@The San Diego Comic Con has a small problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/55): > > Part is also that only 10% of American workers belong to unions; as rare as union or guild\* strikes are, strikes by non-union employees are, if not completely non-existent, exceptionally rare. \*- Most of the workers’ organizations in the entertainment industry are “guilds,” not unions. My understanding of the distinction is that a guild provides collective bargaining for independent contractors (actors, writers, directors, etc.), while a union does the same for actual employees. > The union membership rate–the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of unions–was 10.1 percent in 2022, down from 10.3 percent in 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 100-10.1= 89.9. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/111 "2023-07-18T16:45:28Z")
By this impeccable logic 99.9% of Americans say nope to caviar! They also said nope to 50% pay increases. And 99.999% of American men said nope to sex with supermodels. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/112 "2023-07-18T16:50:55Z")
And … reading about all of this some more, it looks like the strikes’ effects on overseas productions can be complicated. A lot depends on what was written/filmed before the strikes were announced. > **[TV Shows Find Loophole To Avoid Hollywood Strikes](https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/tv-shows-continue-strike.html)** > > How is it that these TV shows can continue filming while most of Hollywood strikes? We have the explanation. Of interest – there’s apparently speculation that Britain’s Equity might not stay on the sidelines forever (though this seems to counter the “can’t legally strike” bit from the _Washington Post_ article above): > Of course, all of this is subject to change as Equity leaders have made it clear that they don’t want to antagonize SAG-AFTRA. In fact, the organization has promised to stand in solidarity with the American actors’ and writers’ unions, and it is possible that they might also stop filming in an act of solidarity if the strike is not resolved soon. > > If this happens, all shows on this list (except for _Squid Game_) could be affected. The article doesn’t spell this out … but there seems to be a dichotomy between English-language productions and non-English-language productions. It doesn’t seem (yet) that, say, Indian or South Korean productions will be affected much. For one, though: Priyanka Chopra (a SAG-AFTRA member) **[did pull out of an upcoming Bollywood production as well as her American projects](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/priyanka-chopra-jonas-comes-out-in-support-of-sag-aftra-strike/articleshow/101772519.cms?from=mdr)**. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/113 "2023-07-18T17:05:19Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > From this very fucking thread: > > > [@](#): > > > > Part is also that only 10% of American workers belong to unions; as rare as union or guild\* strikes are, strikes by non-union employees are, if not completely non-existent, exceptionally rare. \*- Most of the workers’ organizations in the entertainment industry are “guilds,” not unions. My understanding of the distinction is that a guild provides collective bargaining for independent contractors (actors, writers, directors, etc.), while a union does the same for actual employees. > > > The union membership rate–the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of unions–was 10.1 percent in 2022, down from 10.3 percent in 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. > > 100-10.1= 89.9. I’m very fucking aware of these stats, thank you. Summarizing the 90% of Americans who are not in unions as saying “no thanks to unions”, in the face of the 71% of Americans who approve of labor unions, is super misleading. The reasons why people are saying “no thanks to unions” have a huge amount to deal with the incredible anti-union machine in our country. It’s no longer about Pinkertons, and it’s more about boutique anti-union firms that do things like send undercover agents into your workplace to sniff out and isolate the union organizers and find reasons to fire them. > **[Why scrutiny of Starbucks' alleged union violations is boiling over now](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/the-union-busting-practices-that-landed-starbucks-in-hot-water)** > > Public scrutiny is brewing for former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on Wednesday as he testifies before a Senate committee about the company's alleged anti-union practices. It also has to do with changes to the US economy away from manufacturing and toward service, and with the failures of labor leaders to adapt to this change, to the detriment of workers. It has nothing whatsoever to do with unions asking people not to cosplay, ferchrissake. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/114 "2023-07-18T17:05:59Z")
…and this thread keeps getting weirder… ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/115 "2023-07-18T17:14:38Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > 100-10.1= 89.9. All that means is the percentage who _aren’t_ in a labor union; it doesn’t tell us anything about what percentage of Americans _choose_ to not be in a union, disapprove of the idea of unions, or would choose to not join one if union membership were even an option for them. It does _not_ tell us: > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > 89.9 percent of Americans say “no thanks” to unions That BLS article also notes that union participation is far higher in the public/governmental sectors (33%) than in the private sector (6%); for most private-sector jobs and industries, union representation simply isn’t a thing, at least these days, and I don’t get the sense that unions are even trying to unionize those industries, particularly when it comes to white-collar professions. I work in advertising; I’ve never heard of a U.S. ad agency where the employees were unionized, or attempted to form a union (though I would not be surprised to learn that it’s been tried, somewhere). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/116 "2023-07-18T20:34:06Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > And … reading about all of this some more, it looks like the strikes’ effects on overseas productions can be complicated. A lot depends on what was written/filmed before the strikes were announced. > > [https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/tv-shows-continue-strike.html](https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/tv-shows-continue-strike.html) > > Of interest – there’s apparently speculation that Britain’s Equity might not stay on the sidelines forever (though this seems to counter the “can’t legally strike” bit from the _Washington Post_ article above): > > > Of course, all of this is subject to change as Equity leaders have made it clear that they don’t want to antagonize SAG-AFTRA. In fact, the organization has promised to stand in solidarity with the American actors’ and writers’ unions, and it is possible that they might also stop filming in an act of solidarity if the strike is not resolved soon. > > > > If this happens, all shows on this list (except for _Squid Game_) could be affected. > > The article doesn’t spell this out … but there seems to be a dichotomy between English-language productions and non-English-language productions. It doesn’t seem (yet) that, say, Indian or South Korean productions will be affected much. For one, though: Priyanka Chopra (a SAG-AFTRA member) **[did pull out of an upcoming Bollywood production as well as her American projects](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/priyanka-chopra-jonas-comes-out-in-support-of-sag-aftra-strike/articleshow/101772519.cms?from=mdr)**. I don’t know, the statements put out by Equity seem pretty clear. They support the strike in principle but can not legally do anything constructive to join in. As to how SAG members on Equity projects have to comply they are saying contact your SAG rep. They can not and are not giving legal advice to people not in their union. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/117 "2023-07-18T20:38:30Z")
This article quotes the Equity position and instructions to members. > **[U.K. Actors Union Equity to Support SAG-AFTRA Strike by ‘All Lawful Means’](https://variety.com/2023/film/global/equity-sag-strike-actors-1235669700/amp/)** > > U.K. actors union Equity is supporting the SAG-AFTRA actors strike by “all lawful means.” The two bodies released a joint statement on Thursday that said: “”Equity U.K. stan… ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/118 "2023-07-18T23:02:11Z")
From the website, > If the contract type is a Television, Theatrical, Agnostic, or New Media Agreement, you should check our interim agreement list Agnostic? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/119 "2023-07-19T00:10:53Z")
The full term of art is “platform agnostic”: > SAG-AFTRA is moving towards what they call a “platform agnostic” approach (ie. You create the project and then you can put it wherever you like rather than having to decide if it will first go online or to festivals or to a theatrical release). The new SPA, UPA, and MPA are platform agnostic. If you are making a series (rather than a one-off), then you would use a New Media Agreement. [https://www.electronicbass.com/for-producers/](https://www.electronicbass.com/for-producers/) ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/120 "2023-07-19T00:36:38Z")
Rather than asking people not to cosplay, a better way to support the strike would be to ask attendees not to give revenue to the studios. Cancel streaming subscriptions, don’t see movies in the theater, don’t buy DVDs, etc. The cosplay person isn’t giving any revenue to the studios. They are helping to promote the studio’s content, but the studio isn’t directly gaining revenue from the person dressing up as a character. When people directly financially contribute to the studio’s revenue, the additional revenue helps the studio during the strike. The studios aren’t going to be in a hurry to negotiate when they’re hauling in truckloads of cash from movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer. Asking a person not to wear their costume that they’ve spent a lot of time and money on seems like a misguided request. It will disappoint the attendees and have virtually no effect on the strike. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061/121 "2023-07-19T00:45:58Z")
Having people wear a specific colored ribbon would be an easy way to show support. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-san-diego-comic-con-has-a-small-problem/987061.md?page=7)