Stunt performer sets himself on fire at SAG-AFTRA picket

Mike Massa is a stunt coordinator and actor who set himself on flames at a Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Picket Line (SAG – AFTRA). This was a protest against unfair conditions of work that writers and actors have been fighting with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Massa, who recently worked as a stunt coordinator and Harrison Ford’s stunt double on Indiana Jones and Dial of DestinyMassa, wore a suit, a striking sign, and joined the SAG-AFTRA protest in Atlanta. The rally was held to highlight the need for a fair new contract. Crucially, Massa’s stunt was performed safely with a fire crew and special protective materials — fire stunts are notoriously dangerous.

Actors have been on strike since July 14 after the parties’ previous contract expired. Writers Guild of America, also in strike mode and negotiating a deal with AMPTP.

Stunt actors and writers, as well as conventional actors and writers, are all on strike until their unions, who represent the major film and television studios, negotiate with AMPTP new contracts. Writers and actors want fair compensation based on streaming profits, and they also want protection from artificial intelligence. For stunt actors specifically, SAG-AFTRA is looking for studios to pay residuals to stunt coordinators and to pay overtime for “so-called ‘flat deal’” stunt coordinators to compensate for “abusively long hours on set.”

“The AMPTP is opposed to us sharing the rewards of a successful show because we don’t bear any of the risks,” Elena Sanchez, a stunt actor who’s appeared in movies and shows like Black Panther : Wakanda forever, Spider-Man : No Way Home” The Walking DeadAtlanta News First reported that, “Among others,” said by the participants during the event. “Tell that to my friend John who lost his life working on one of your TV shows. Tell that to any of us who have literally broken bones and bled for you.”

Sanchez was referring to John Bernecker who passed away in 2017 during filming. The Walking Dead. In the same year, Joi Harris was killed while shooting a film. Deadpool 2.

SAG-AFTRA will continue to strike if a settlement is reached with the studios, represented by AMPTP. WGA actors, who have been on strike since last May, are in the midst of negotiations to reach a new agreement. It’s the first time both WGA and SAG have been simultaneously on strike since 1960, and a major labor action that comes during several big years for the union movement.