During the initial day of the SAG-AFTRA strike, Sean Gunn, renowned actor and brother of DC head James Gunn, took the opportunity to voice his frustration with the AMPTP for the absence of residuals he has received for his role in the beloved series ‘Gilmore Girls.’
Gunn, who portrayed the quirky Stars Hollow resident Kirk in the show, shared his concerns with The Hollywood Reporter, mainly targeting Netflix, the streaming platform where ‘Gilmore Girls’ has continued to thrive since its debut in 2000. Despite the show’s undeniable success, Gunn claims he was not adequately compensated for his contributions.
“I was on a television show called Gilmore Girls for a long time that has brought in massive profits for Netflix,” Gunn explained. “It has been one of their most popular shows for a very long time, over a decade. It gets streamed over and over and over again, and I see almost none of the revenue that comes into that.”
The issue lies with residuals, which should come from Warner Bros. Discovery, the studio responsible for producing and licensing the series to Netflix. However, regardless of how many viewers tune in to watch the show, the actors, including Gunn, are paid the same fixed amount by the studio.
Gunn expressed dismay towards co-CEO Ted Sarandos and executive chair Reed Hastings, citing their multimillion-dollar compensations. Although he mistakenly attributed the large sums to bonuses, their earnings primarily stemmed from stock options, according to SEC filings.
In light of the current situation, Gunn believes studios and streaming services must reconsider their business models and fairly distribute wealth among those who contribute to the success of their content. Failure to do so may result in the industry facing significant challenges.
‘Gilmore Girls’ originally aired on The WB and later on The CW, gaining immense popularity when it joined Netflix’s library nearly a decade ago. However, due to how deals are structured, actors are not reaping the benefits of the show’s streaming success.
Beyond residuals and performance-based incentives, Gunn emphasized the importance of addressing artificial intelligence and revenue sharing in contract negotiations. He stressed the need for equitable compensation for using an actor’s likeness and reevaluating the revenue-sharing model to ensure fairness.
In light of the collapsed contract negotiations between the actors’ union and studios/streamers, the Writers Guild has joined the picket lines, leading to Hollywood’s first double strike in six decades.
Sean Gunn’s vocal stance highlights the growing concerns among actors about fair compensation and equitable treatment in the rapidly evolving entertainment industry. As the strike continues, it remains to be seen how studios and streaming platforms will respond to the demands of their valued talent.
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