Directors Guild of Canada – Alberta Chapter.
THE ABANDONS & BILLY THE KID Lay Off Alberta Crews Due To Hollywood Shutdown
Many American film and TV productions have shut down across Canada as a result of the breakdown in contract talks between 8 Hollywood studio/streamers and the writers and actors’ guilds — leaving film crews struggling to make ends meet.
Netflix is part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and therefore one of the struck companies which means SAG-AFTRA actors can’t work on its new western series The Abandons, that was expected to start shooting in Alberta mid-month.
Related: Lena Headey to Star in Netflix Western The Abandons Filming in Alberta
Similarly, season 2 of Epix’s Billy the Kid, which had been filming in Calgary since May 23rd, had to pause production when the SAG strike began on July 14th.
Next door in B.C., Disney’s big budget movie Tron: Ares with Jared Leto shut down before it started principal photography this month, laying off 150.
Related: Tron: Ares Shuts Down in Vancouver Before it Starts – Laying Off 150
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May 2nd with the SAG-AFTRA guild joining them on the picket line on July 14th.