LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jennifer Garner, the 51-year-old actress, is taking part in the ongoing strike and reflecting on her SAG-AFTRA membership. On July 22, she shared a shot from the BeReal app on her Instagram, showing her picketing in front of Fox Studios in Los Angeles, standing alongside her fellow actors in protest.
The star of ‘13 Going on 30’ expressed her pride in joining the picket lines in solidarity with her fellow SAG members and in support of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW). However, she also highlighted the seriousness and significance of the issues being protested during the strike.
‘I’m proud to walk in solidarity’
“I was so excited to earn my @sagaftra card in 1995. I remember calling my parents and telling them I was going to receive health care — as an actor,” Garner wrote in her Instagram caption, adding, “Joining SAG instantly legitimized my improbable fantasy of working as an actor and turned it into an actual job."
“Getting my feet under me happened in fits and starts over years — it was so hard,” the actress recalled, continuing, “Thinking of how wildly the industry has changed — I can’t imagine — it must be close to impossible now.” Garner further acknowledged, “And for journeymen actors — not to mention — stunts, background, stand-ins (all of whom make up the backbone of everything you see) how frustrating to accrue experience and credits, be recognized for your great work, and see your quality of life backslide.” She then wrote, “I’m proud to walk in solidarity with my fellow SAG members and in support of @wgaeast @writersguildwest, but picketing in front of FOX Studios was sobering.”
Garner earned her membership in 1995
Jennifer Garner is just one of the many actors who have actively joined the picket lines following the announcement from SAG-AFTRA on July 13, declaring that the union would be going on strike. The strike decision has led to the shutdown of production on most television series and movies, as members of SAG-AFTRA protest and negotiate for better working conditions and other issues they find important.
SAG-AFTRA membership is available to individuals working in positions covered by a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) collective bargaining agreement. This allows various professionals within the entertainment industry, such as actors, voice-over artists, broadcasters, and others, to become members of the union. However, those qualifying through work as a background actor must have completed a minimum of three days of work as a background actor under a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) collective bargaining agreement to be eligible for membership.
