SAG-AFTRA is finally putting influencers at the forefront of their organization, with the union announcing that it is forming an influencer committee.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, approximately 160,000 SAG-AFTRA union members are influencers. SAG-AFTRA first welcomed them into the organization back in 2021 by introducing an influencer agreement and waiver to help influencers with branded content.
Four years on, national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland tells The Hollywood Reporter wants to expand this support beyond branded content.
He notes that, over time, “it really became clear that if we’re going to continue to expand, and especially outside of the branded content space, we needed to have a formal structure in the union so that members who do this work could come together and give us guidance and leadership.”
Who Will Chair the SAG-AFTRA Influencer Committee?
Lifestyle influencer Patrick Janelle will be chairing the committee, and it looks like he wants to hit the ground running right away. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he wants to begin by seeing what creators actually need support with.
In a statement cited by the outlet, Janelle said that he sees “a significant need to build standards for this multi-billion dollar creator economy and an opportunity to create meaningful infrastructure and support for the talent who form the foundation.”
He added: “Together, with our collective experiences and unique perspectives, we will build tangible tools, provide resources, and develop industry standards, creating meaningful support for creators who are at various stages in their careers.”
But what prompted SAG-AFTRA’s increased support of creators? According to Crabtree-Ireland, it was their refusal to “scab” (working during a strike) during the 2023 theatrical strikes that really sealed the deal.
“During the theatrical strike, creators of influencers stepped up in big ways to stand by our members on strike,” he said. “I think that just really cemented for us the obvious connection and nexus there.”
With 1.5 million of the US population working as full-time creators, SAG-AFTRA clearly has a lot of work to do.
Still, Janelle remains confident, as he concludes: “I am confident that with the weight of this organization … we can make significant contributions toward ensuring that creators are able to build more stable, safe and sustainable careers.”
