Hollywood actors will have to think differently when picking out their Halloween costumes this year.
The Screen Actors Guild, or Sag-Aftra, which represents 160,000 performers including A-list stars, recently shared its "strike compliant" guide to celebrate the holiday.
The actors' union announced a strike in July that began due to failed negotiations with the major studios over dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence. Talks to end the strike, which has now lasted 100 days, are set to resume on Tuesday.
Some of the rules shared by Sag-Aftra for this year’s Halloween include choosing generic costumes rather than dressing as a specific character "to stay in solidarity with the strike".
"Dress up as characters from non-struct content, like an animated TV show," one of the pointers reads.
But some celebrities were none too pleased.
Mandy Moore, who voices Rapunzel in Disney’s Tangled, shared her thoughts on Instagram, saying: "Is this a joke? Come on @sagaftra. This is what’s important? We’re asking you to negotiate in good faith on our behalf. So many folks across every aspect of this industry have been sacrificing mightily for months. Get back to the table and get a fair deal so everyone can get back to work."
Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds also mocked the rules with a post on X.
"I look forward to screaming 'scab' at my 8-year-old all night. She’s not in the union but she needs to learn," he posted. A scab is someone who breaks strike rules or crosses picket lines.
The reactions led to Sag-Aftra issuing a follow-up statement, which said that their rules did not apply to the children of actors.
"Sag-Aftra issued Halloween guidance in response to questions from content creators and members about how to support the strike during this festive season. This was meant to help them avoid promoting struck work, and it is the latest in a series of guidelines we have issued. It does not apply to anyone’s kids," it said.
The strike has disrupted film and television production, leaving thousands of crew members without work, as well as the actors.
Members of Sag-Aftra are seeking a deal with the Alliance for Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiates on behalf of studios.
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The biog
Age: 23
Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"
Family: Married and with a daughter
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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