Hollywood is viewed as dreamland full of young and beautiful people all with their on the next big thing!
And for an agent or casting director searching to fill a role, that sometimes elusive “look” will always be paramount. Ironically, “being talented” and “having a look” might not be a natural pair for some actors, but for Hollywood, the surface will trump the underneath almost always.
During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical contract negotiations, the old cliché: “youth is wasted on the young” reared its ugly head. As a SAG/AFTRA member on the contract negotiation committee, the small shock of all this for me when you juxtapose youth with this negotiation we’re currently in, was how odd and terrifying A.I. was viewed.
I have known Anthony Meindl for nearly 20 years. He’s one of the most well-known and revered acting coaches in L.A. and abroad.
What commonly was getting lost in this #HotLaborSummer was the sense of perspective and reality when it came to the true “state of A.I.” as it APPLIES to being an actor not at some paper-pushing corporation.
Because so many union members who joined the picket lines were younger members, I found myself constantly battling what I call the Google metaphor. The large number of people between 18-35 who just grew up with the simplicity of: “If I can think it – then I can find the answer on my phone.” Negotiations is much closer to trying to get ALL of your friends to behave exactly as you want them to during a party that lasts 6-months long. Yes, A.I. is our number one priority, but we have another 48 proposals to help us all have a better chance at making a living working, and they matter as well.
Podcast Note from Anthony Meindl: Welcome to In the Moment’s SAG Strike Episode where Anthony chats with actor and SAG AFTRA Negotiating Committee Member Kevin E. West.