SAG-AFTRA has given a statement on Federal Production Incentives by SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin (Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) and National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland (The CBS Evening News, KTLA Morning News) via the official SAG-AFTRA website.
The full statement by SAG-AFTRA is down below.
“Production is the lifeblood of our industry and the communities that support it. President Trump’s vocal and determined leadership in calling for federal production incentives is exactly what the entertainment industry needs. SAG-AFTRA member Jon Voight has also been a strong advocate for bringing more film and television production back to the United States, and we recognize his efforts to advance this important goal. We’re encouraged to see the administration recognize the importance of strengthening our domestic production industry and move in this direction.”
“As our industry undergoes profound transformation and confronts unprecedented technological change, including the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence, it is more important than ever to ensure that the United States remains a global leader in film and television production. In recent years, we have watched too many productions and middle-class jobs leave the country for jurisdictions offering more competitive incentives.”
“A federal film and television production incentive will help bring more productions and thousands of jobs back to the United States, while creating new opportunities for entertainment professionals and the many businesses that support our industry in communities across the country. We urge Congress to act swiftly on the president’s call. SAG-AFTRA stands ready to work with the administration, Congress and our industry partners to turn this momentum into concrete policy that delivers more production and good union jobs here at home.”
According to SAG-AFTRA site, the institute stands for Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. They stand for a labor union that represents approximately 160,000 media professionals and performers worldwide.