UNION WARNS ACTORS NOT TO WORK ON PANDEMIC FILM “SONGBIRD”

On Thursday, the union that oversees the film, ”Songbird” warned its members not to work on the production as filmmakers have not fully complied with safety measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The agency assured they didn’t sign the proper agreements for the movie that is among the first in production after coronavirus closures.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Actors issued a do-not-work order to its members, saying the production company “has failed to complete the signatory process,” and working on the film could result in disciplinary action. “The producers have not been transparent about their safety protocols and that is something we obviously take very seriously,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said in a statement. “Also, as noted in the Do Not Work order, the producers have not yet become signatory to our agreement."

The small film was among the first to attempt to resume production after the long closure. California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave film and television productions the green light to resume shooting in the state starting 12th June, as strict coronavirus restrictions were in place.

Actors reportedly rehearsed from home for the movie, produced by Michael Bay and directed by Adam Mason. Its stars include Demi Moore, Peter Stormare, and Craig Robinson. “We are actively working to resolve this paperwork issue with the guild,” One of the companies, Invisible Narrative, said.