Adam Driver supports Hollywood strikes Venice

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【Summary】Adam Driver supports Hollywood strikes at the Venice Film Festival, stating that his new film "Ferrari" demonstrates that big studios can treat actors and writers better. He questions why smaller companies can meet the demands of the unions while big companies like Netflix and Amazon cannot. The film, directed by Michael Mann, was made with the support of the crew who made sacrifices in their salaries.

FutureCar Staff Sep 02, 2023 4:27 PM PT

Adam Driver supports Hollywood strikes Venice

Adam Driver expressed his support for the Hollywood strikes during a press conference on Thursday. He emphasized that his new indie film, "Ferrari," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, serves as a reminder to big studios that it is possible to treat actors and writers better. Despite the limited attendance at the festival due to the strikes, Driver was able to attend because the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) made an interim agreement allowing independent films to continue their promotional work.

In response to a question about why smaller distribution companies like Neon and STX International can meet the demands of the unions, while big companies like Netflix and Amazon cannot, Driver expressed his confusion. He plays the role of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the iconic Italian brand in the film. He stated that his presence at the festival is to show solidarity with the unions and to support the people he worked with on the film.

"Ferrari," directed by Michael Mann, is one of the 23 films competing for the Golden Lion in Venice. Mann expressed his support for the strikers, including both actors and the Writers Guild of America, stating that everyone on the crew stands in "total solidarity" with them. He highlighted the fact that "Ferrari" was made possible because the people involved in the film willingly sacrificed large portions of their salaries, including Driver and himself, and producers worked without fees. The film was not funded by any big studio, allowing them to stand in solidarity with the unions.

The strikes in Hollywood have primarily been driven by concerns about pay in the streaming era and the potential use of AI technology. Writers and actors have brought the industry to a standstill in order to address these issues and advocate for fair treatment and compensation.