Approximately twelve film industry workers remonstrated outside a town hall assembly of the Screen Actors Guild on Wednesday night, urging attendees not to authorize a strike that would bring entertainment business to a standstill during unfavorable times.

 

The group of protesters carried signs saying “Please No Strike Now – The Crew” in front of the complex that boards the Kodak Theatre, where the Academy Awards ceremonies are held every year.

 

The film industry workers want to prevent SAG members from sending out strike authorization ballots, an action that is scheduled to take place on January 2 and that could endanger the February 22 Oscar event if actors boycott.

 

Protesters included location scouts, technicians and camera-equipment vendors, who explained that they had not benefited from many projects since the actors’ contract expired in June as a result of film production delays.

 

The demonstration on Wednesday night is far from being the only sign of disappointment with the guild. Early this week, several SAG members reportedly booed President Alan Rosenberg at a gathering in New York, demanding him to resign.

 

In addition, more than 130 Hollywood stars including Academy Award winners George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Charlize Theron, Morgan Freeman and Sally Field, signed a petition on Monday against the strike authorization vote.

 

In spite of the protests, however, some of the 400 actors who were present at Wednesday’s meeting did not give up their plan to make their discontentment public and oppose methods used by major Hollywood studios.

 

In order for the authorization to pass, at least 75 percent of the voters must endorse the request. The ballots are scheduled to be tallied on January 23.