Will Smith calls SAG/AFTRA and WGA strikes a ‘pivotal moment for our profession’ after meeting with longtime acting coach and his students

The ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes have put a halt to nearly all major studio productions as workers push to get a new contract that’s more favorable in an era of streaming media and independent filmmaking.

Now two weeks into the SAG-AFTRA work stoppage and longtime Hollywood leading man Will Smith took to his Instagram page to highlight the urgency of the current situation for those who are trying to make a living as an actor.

‘As some of yall mighta heard, my guild, @SAGAFTRA are on strike along with our writer colleagues in the WGA,’ Smith, 54, began. ‘It’s a pivotal moment for our profession.’

In an apparent move to point out that most actors are not big stars earning millions of dollars, Smith shared his statement along with a photo of himself with his longtime acting coach and his current students, who he called the ‘next generation of actors’.

The I Am Legend star proceeded to share how his teacher has been there to work with him over the years, especially when his confidence has taken an unforeseen dive.

’33 years into my career as an actor and there are still some days when I feel like I’m that kid from Philly who’s on borrowed time, even though I know I’ve been extraordinarily blessed and lucky to have worked as an actor all this time.’ Smith confessed, before giving his mentor all due respect.

‘It’s thanks to my friend, my teacher and my mentor @aaronspeiser (Aaron Speiser) whom I fondly refer to as “coach” that those days when I feel like I don’t belong are fewer and further between,’ the Academy Award-winning actor revealed.

He added, ‘Coach invited me to an acting class the other day and I met a group of our talented next generation of actors and they amazed and inspired me!’

Smith, 54, then clarified the importance of the role Speiser has had on his career that began with a part on TV in the ABC Afterschool Special in 1990.

‘I’m grateful to coach for continuing to support these talented hopefuls in this art-form that I love and have been lucky enough to work in for three decades of my life! Thanks COACH.’ he ended the lengthy statement.

Smith is just one of many actors speaking out about pay disparities and other issues facing actors and writers involved in the strike.

Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents some 11,500 screenwriters, were first to go on strike on May 2.

One of the main focus points in the labor dispute is the residuals from streaming media. The WGA claims that AMPTP’s share of such residuals has cut much of the writers’ average incomes compared to a decade ago.

Huge significance: The longtime Hollywood leading man called the ongoing strikes a ‘pivotal moment for our profession’, alongside a photo of himself meeting with his coach’s current students, who he called the next generation of actors’

Writers also want artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT to be used only as a tool that can help with research or facilitate script ideas and not as a tool to replace them.

The American actors’ union SAG-AFTRA followed up and strike in mid-July over its ongoing dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

The biggest sticking point is the union’s demand for 2% of the revenue generated by streaming shows, according to Variety.

The two sides also remain far apart on basic increases in minimum rates, with the studios offering 5%, 4% and 3.5% across the three years of the contract, while the union is demanding 11%, 4% and 4%.

Strike issues: Among the many issues the SAG/AFTRA and WGA unions are trying to address  include pay disparities and residuals related to streaming services; union members are seen picketing in Los Angeles on July 28

The two sides are also at odds on dozens of other issues, with only a handful of them been publicly reported. 

The strike marks the first time that actors have initiated a labor dispute in the U.S. since the 1980 actors strike, and the first time that actors and writers have walked out simultaneously since 1960. 

The last time there was a writer’s strike, the state’s economy lost an estimated $2 billion from the 100-day work stoppage, according to CBS. 

Both the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA labor disputes have contributed to the biggest interruption to the American television and film industries since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) , which represents some 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike on May 2 

They too decided to hold out from signing a new contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)

One of the main focus points in the labor dispute is the residuals from streaming media. The WGA claims that AMPTP’s share of such residuals has cut much of the writers’ average incomes compared to a decade ago.

Writers also want artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT to be used only as a tool that can help with research or facilitate script ideas and not as a tool to replace them.

The last time there was a writer’s strike, the state’s economy lost an estimated $2 billion from the 100-day work stoppage, according to CBS. 

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native