On July 14, 2023, the American actors’ union SAG–AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) went on strike over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). It coincided with a Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike as part of broader Hollywood labor disputes. We’ve had a lot of questions regarding the SAG-AFTRA strike and what it means to Hal-Con 2023. As it stands now, here is how we plan to proceed.
Q&As — General interest questions are fine. For example, it’s ok to ask an actor what it’s like to work in the industry, just not what it was like to work on a specific show or for a specific company. All questions will have to be vetted before they can be asked. None of the Actor Q&As will be recorded and no photos will be permitted during the panel. This will be monitored. If staff see photos or videos taken, they will have to be deleted. Please don’t put our guests or staff in an awkward position.
Autograph Sessions — Non-character headshots will be provided, but attendees are free to bring their own character-related items for signing. You can still chat with a guest, but please don’t ask any questions about their work on specific TV shows or movies – past or present.
Photo Ops — Attendees can be in character.
Announcements — We will no longer be referencing our guests’ credits in our announcements. We’ve made the decision that we would apply this across the board, regardless of category. Fans are free to discuss an individual’s work, but we will not be able to provide any clarification.
Our Website – We have removed all actors’ bios in order to comply with SAG-AFTRA requirements. We will add them back online once the strike is over.
For more information on the SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical/Streaming Strike and how it relates to Personal Appearances and Conventions, please visit this SAG-AFTRA FAQ