Actor Jessica Chastain made an impassioned plea to American actors on the Venice Film Festival press convention for Michel Franco’s drama Memory, imploring them to encourage indie movies, reported Variety. (Also Read | Twitterverse reacts to Jessica Chastain’s charming moments at Oscars 2023)
“I was very nervous about coming,” stated Jessica— who was sporting a black SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) on Strike T-Shirt, revealing that “there were actually some people on my team who advised me against it”.
Jessica then stated that actors are, “usually made to maintain quiet in an effort to shield future working alternatives, and we are sometimes informed and reminded how grateful we must be. And that’s the surroundings that I feel has allowed work to be abused, to go unchecked for a lot of a long time. And can also be the surroundings that has saddled members of our union with unfair contracts”.
As per Variety, since Memory obtained an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA, Jessica and co-star Peter Sarsgaard were present at the press conference. “I am here because SAG-AFTRA has been explicitly clear that the way to support the strike is to post on social media, walk the picket line and to work and support interim agreement projects,” she said. “It’s what our national board, negotiating committee and our elected leadership has asked us to do.”
Jessica continued, “The independent producers, like the ones here, are letting the AMPTP know that actors deserve fair compensation, that AI protection should be implemented, and there should be sharing of streaming revenues. I hope my being here today encourages other independent producers, and encourages actors to show up [at festivals] and support our union members. Hopefully we will see an end to the strike soon and hopefully AMPTP will go back to the table.”
Memory, directed and written by Michel, is about Sylvia (Jessica), a “social employee who leads a easy and structured life,” according to the film’s synopsis. “This is shattered when Peter (Sarsgaard) follows her residence from their highschool reunion. Their surprising encounter could have an amazing affect on every of them as they open the door to the previous.”
In an interview with Variety, Michel stated of casting Jessica within the movie: “Jessica is possibly the best actress in the states right now, it’s not an exaggeration to say she’s the best actress in the world.”
Mexican auteur Michel’s final two movies, New Order (2020) and Sundown (2021), each premiered at Venice. Art thriller New Order was awarded the pageant’s grand jury prize. Jessica, who received greatest actress on the Oscars final 12 months for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, final had a movie premiere at Venice in 2011 with Texas Killing Fields, reported Variety.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
