Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA gave a passionate speech at the 30th edition of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, held Saturday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The awards ceremony, which broadcast live on Netflix, is the first edition of the ceremony since SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement with the major studios to end their historic strike and ratified a new contract. Read his full speech below.
Thank you so much. I want to thank the WGA, DGA, IATSE, AFM, Teamsters and Basic Crafts for helping make this night a success. Thank you to the hardest working guy in showbiz, our SAG-AFTRA Executive Director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. And especially a big thank you to Netflix for inviting the SAG Awards to their platform, so this event can be seen all over the world, including my parents' condo in South Florida.
But most importantly, congratulations to all members, both here today and everywhere. I hold you all with the highest esteem and greatest respect, because you are the champions. you survived the longest strike in the history of our union with courage and conviction. The trip was arduous. He came with great sacrifice and unrelenting stress, their collective dignity and his perseverance to stand up and say, 'We deserve better because we are better' resulted in a historic billion-dollar settlement.
Their solidarity ignited workers around the world, triggering what will always be remembered as the 'hot work summer'. You went on the hero's journey and were on the front line, strike captains led the picket line and we all attended protests because you understood what our enormous contribution to this wonderful industry means.
And now here we are, tall and proud. This was a fundamental moment in the history of our union that has marked the trajectory for many generations to come. Not fearful but brave, not weak but empowered, not pawns but partners.
During the fight for a better contract for television rooms, global ideas emerged. AI will trap us in a matrix where none of us know what's real. If an inventor lacks empathy and spirituality, perhaps that is not the invention we need. Dystopia stories can also become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We should tell stories that ignite the human spirit, connect us to the natural world, and awaken our capacity to love unconditionally.
What is female leadership like? to women and girls? We don't have to emulate masculine energy, but lead with intellect, compassion, wisdom and still rock a red lip.
Sometimes it's hard to see the frame when you're in the image. But a rebirth can occur. Each of us can work to develop empathy within ourselves. Collectively, the paradigm will shift towards peace and harmony. We all have the soft whisper of true love in our hearts.
I am honored to be your president as we enter our golden age. Thank you so much.
