Jessica Chastain Supports SAG Strike at Venice Film Festival: ‘Actors Deserve Fair Compensation’

Jessica Chastain kept the ongoing Hollywood actors’ strike in the spotlight at the Venice International Film Festival.

Chastain, 46, appeared in Venice, Italy on Friday to support her film Memory at the festival wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “SAG-AFTRA ON STRIKE.”

Although members of the Screen Actors Guild are generally prohibited from promoting their current or past projects during the strike, Chastain was able to appear at the festival because Memory is an independent production that received a temporary guild contract.

“I was incredibly nervous to be here today and come here, and there are actually some people on my team who advised me against it,” the Oscar winner said during a press conference when asked if she was “hesitant” to attend.

“Me [actors] They often tell us and remind them how grateful we should be,” she told reporters. “And it’s an environment that I think has allowed workplace abuse to go unchecked for decades and it’s also an environment that has saddled our union members with unfair contracts. “

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Jessica Chastain at the photocall for the film “Memory” at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2023 in Venice, Italy.

Elisabetta A. Villa/Gett

Chastain repeated Ferrari the words of actor Adam Driver earlier this week in Venice, while noting that her presence at the festival, given Memorytemporary agreement, is important for the guild’s strategy in ending the strike that began on July 13.

“This is what our national committee, the negotiating committee and our elected leadership have asked of us,” she said. “And when independent producers like these films here sign these interim agreements, they let the world know, they let AMPTP know that actors deserve fair compensation, that AI protections should be applied, and that there should be streaming revenue sharing.”

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Chastain stars with Peter Sarsgaard, who was also in Venice on Friday Memory. The film follows a social worker named Sylvia whose life “falls apart when Saul (Sarsgaard) follows her home from their high school reunion,” according to the film’s official synopsis.

“Their sudden encounter will have a profound effect on both of them as they open doors to the past,” the synopsis adds.

Jessica Chastain serves up serious style in a denim jumpsuit while supporting the SAG-AFTRA Strike

Essica Chastain is seen arriving at the 80th Venice International Film Festival 2023 on September 8, 2023 in Venice, Italy.

Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic

“I always wanted to work with Peter. We met a few times before this and we talked about it. I’ve made no secret of my admiration for his films and who he is as an actor,” Chastain said at the press conference.

“He’s a true artist. Sometimes an actor will change the script or the story to fit it, and the best thing is when you change yourself to fit the story. He’s a shape-shifter, so it was a lot of fun.”

Memory has its world premiere on Friday in Venice. It will also premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education