William Stanford Davis, who has been a screen actor for more than three decades, made a powerful statement in support of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
Wanting to show why the unions are holding out for a new contract in order to get better wages and residuals in an era of streaming content, the Abbott Elementary star held up an abysmal residual paycheck he received on his Instagram.
‘I’ve been a screen actor for 35 years. I’ve been in the guild about 32 years and I’ll let this speak for itself,’ Davis said in the clip.
He showed the check close to the camera so his audience could see that he earned just $0.05 from an undisclosed rerun of a past TV show he appeared on.
‘You see that? Do you believe that?’ Davis continued, before calling out that the postage and the paper cost more than his residual check.
Solidarity: William Stanford Davis, who has been a screen actor for more than three decades, made a powerful statement in support of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike; seen in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary
Davis, who plays custodian Mr. Johnson on the ABC sitcom for its two-season run to date, continued to make his point to those who would listen.
‘That’s what they think of us as actors,’ he said, in a reference to those, like him, receiving mere pennies for their hard work.
He continued, ‘This is why we’re on strike for better wages, for better residuals [and] for a piece of the subscription and to not give in to AI.’
Davis added, ‘I stand in solidarity with the writers and we will strike until we get what it is we need to make a living as actors.’
Davis went on to caption his post: ‘There ain’t nothing funny about a .03¢ residual check! What are we supposed to do with that? I stand strong with our union as we fight for what’s ours and for the success of the future generations. #sagaftra #wgastrong #strike #solidarity.’
Abbott Elementary premiered as a midseason entry in the 2021–22 television season for ABC in December 2021, and was met with critical acclaim.
The first season of the mockumentary sitcom went on to get nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, which resulted in three wins.
Now two seasons in, the show got word that it had been renewed for a third season this past January.
Wanting to show why the unions are holding out for a new contract in order to get better wages and residuals in an era of streaming content, the Abbott Elementary star held up an abysmal residual paycheck he received on his Instagram
He showed the check close to the camera so his audience could see that he earned just $0.05 from an undisclosed rerun of a past TV show he appeared on
‘You see that? Do you believe that?’ Davis continued, before calling out that the postage and the paper cost more than his residual check
The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents writers in film, television, radio, and online media went on strike in early May, demanding better wages and residuals.
Fran Drescher, the president of the SAG-AFTRA union, announced its strike earlier in July when the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) did not agree to any of their terms during contract negotiations.
‘I wish we would be talking to the other side,’ the former Nanny star told CBS Mornings. ‘We said we’d start talking to them immediately, but they’re punishing us. They don’t want to talk to us, so, oh well, you know, they complained [the strike] is going to shut down the business but they don’t come to the table.’
She went on to describe the oppositions tactics as ‘stonewalling. That’s what we are up against.’
The guild — which represents unionized TV and film actors in the United States — is seeking fair compensation in terms of salaries and residual amounts as well as specific guidelines regarding other issues, including the use of artificial intelligence of performers’ likenesses, according to US Weekly.
Many actors have since joined the picket lines in both Los Angeles and New York City in a show their support for the strike, while others are also sharing their residuals, like Davis, to hammer home the point of why they are striking.
