A SAG strike could potentially have a multimillion dollar impact on the Coachella Valley
As the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists National Board voted on a strike Thursday, July 13th. Coachella Valley businesses are biting their nails on the impact it will have on the local economy. The strike is on midnight July 14th, affecting the 2020 TV Theatrical Contract.
A local business owner and CEO of the Greater Palm Springs Film Alliance and Film Office says a strike combined with the Writers Guild of America strike could possibly have a multimillion dollar impact countywide.
Pre-Covid he says there were 37 feature films created in the Coachella Valley. He says they were on board to reach pre-covid numbers, but the Writer's strike hit and slowed production down. Possibly having two strikes at one time "it is a huge blow to our local economy when Film and Television doesn't happen," says Levi Vincent. "I mean, our hotels are impacted by our local vendors for grip and lighting, our caterers, our local gas stations, our local crew that is hired for productions, our talent, our local background, and extras where our entire infrastructure of film and television are impacted when there's no film and television."
On Thursday, SAG-AFTRA posted that the National Board will vote Thursday morning on whether to strike (with a press conference set for later today at 12 noon PT at SAG-AFTRA Plaza in Los Angeles). Here's a look at the initial statement from SAG-AFTRA
