7,000 French artists threaten a Hollywood-style strike

As the Cannes Film Festival opens, about 7000 performing artists threaten to strike if they do not receive better compensation from streaming giants such as Netflix. Artists like Swann Arlaud, Alain Chamfort, Sandrine Bonnaire, Valérie Donzelli, and Agnès Jaoui have signed an open letter demanding that streaming platforms pay them "proportionally to the success of the work they contribute to". The letter, initiated by Adami, a company that manages the rights of artists for the distribution of their recorded work, laments: "Whether it's a blockbuster film or a series that accumulates views and seasons? Regardless of the viewing availability duration and the number of streams, actresses and actors receive a meager, one-time fee determined at the start",

This fee is often calculated based on the minimum union scale, which ranges between 1000 and 1500 euros for lesser-known actors and actresses. This amount is paid in one lump sum, even if the work garners millions of views. The signatories recall that a 2019 European directive adopted in France in May 2021 had established the principle of an "appropriate and proportional remuneration of performers" based on the success achieved. They are merely asking for the law to be applied. If no change occurs, the artists consider striking, just as Hollywood did last year for 118 days, causing damages estimated at 6 billion dollars.

For the record, following the longest strike known in Hollywood, the artists achieved a breakthrough and reached an agreement that includes an approximate 8% increase in minimum wages and, for the first time, a system of bonuses proportional to the success of the film or series on streaming platforms. This strike, now historic, thanks to the tenacity of the protesters, led to an agreement that nearly meets all their demands.