Actors and members of the SAG-AFTRA union marched outside of Netflix headquarters in the Flatiron district on Friday, following the failure of contract negotiations between major studios and the actors’ union.  

Hundreds of union members picketed outside of the streaming service’s headquarters and at three other New York City locations, saying their demands are simple – they want fair compensation and rules for how artificial intelligence is used in the industry.  

The union has now joined the Writers Guild of America, which has been on strike since May. This is the first time that writers and actors have been on strike at the same time since the 1960s, and the film industry now faces uncertainty as it comes to a halt across many productions.  

“I don’t remember the last time I had an on-camera gig that could pay me a livable wage, and it’s not a difficult ask,” said one rally attendee. “We’re not asking to buy a second yacht or a mansion. We’re literally asking to have one, maybe two jobs and make a living doing the art that we love.” 

The writers' strike has been going on for around two months, and Friday marked the first full day of actors joining them on strike.