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Under the iconic Gaslamp District sign on Fifth Ave., a vibrant group of cosplayers and SAG-AFTRA members gathered during the Friday of San Diego Comic-Con. Led by Larry Poole, the president of the San Diego SAG-AFTRA membership, the gathering aimed to show solidarity with the striking members in Los Angeles and New York. The event was approved by the national actors union and shared with local members through an email blast a few days prior.
The photo-op and meet-up lasted for 30 minutes and attracted both striking SAG-AFTRA and WGA members, as well as cosplayers including some from IASTE. It was one of the first local events in San Diego to demonstrate unity since the performers guild announced their strike on July 14. Victor Chan, a SAG-AFTRA union member who has worked on commercials and in theater, described the event as an opportunity for local talent to come together and support their counterparts in Los Angeles and New York. He also highlighted the significance of organizing the gathering during Comic-Con, one of the most prominent media events.
While not officially associated with Comic-Con panels like “Inside the Writers’ Room: Building a Better Future for Writers” and “AI in Entertainment: The Performer’s Perspective,” the photo-op was reminiscent of fan-organized gatherings that are common at pop culture conventions. It brought a sense of positivity to an otherwise turbulent week leading up to Comic-Con. Prior to the event, there had been online disputes among cosplayers regarding strike guidelines released by SAG-AFTRA. Some cosplayers felt they were being bullied for their disagreement, while others saw it as an opportunity to gain attention and discuss trendy topics.
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For Gillian Foxglove, a veteran cosplayer, the issue stemmed from concerns that cosplaying characters from struck companies could be seen as scabbing. However, the uproar also included individuals who were using the situation to further their social standing within the cosplayer community. Sam Oester, a cosplay hobbyist who created a graphic to help cosplayers understand the strike guidelines, expressed frustration about the online drama overshadowing the importance of the strike itself. She emphasized that the strike was about fighting for fair wages, job security, and healthcare benefits, not about prioritizing cosplay guidelines.
The guidelines provided by SAG-AFTRA primarily targeted influencers seeking union membership under the influencer contract. These guidelines advised cosplayers not to portray characters from currently struck TV and film productions or past productions that would have been struck if they were airing now. Cosplay influencers were encouraged to complete any contracted work agreed upon before the strike started and to decline paid or unpaid work after July 14.
However, determining what constitutes as struck work has been challenging for cosplayers, particularly with the rise of streaming platforms. It is difficult to discern if a production was made specifically for a streaming platform or if it was produced independently and later picked up by a streaming service. Additionally, mergers between production companies and larger conglomerates have further complicated the issue. Despite the confusion, many cosplayers want to support SAG-AFTRA while still being able to continue their cosplay activities beyond struck work.
The guidelines also received backlash due to their vague language, which blurred the line between fan and influencer. This confusion led to the spread of misinformation among the cosplay community, causing unnecessary panic. Shaan Sharma, a member of the SAG-AFTRA Board of Directors, recognized the lack of clarity and explained that the union’s focus was primarily on contract negotiations rather than anticipating all potential complications. He acknowledged that the rollout of the guidelines could have been smoother but emphasized the union’s efforts to provide answers to questions as quickly as possible.
The cosplay community, however, views the term “influencer” more broadly than SAG-AFTRA does. Many cosplayers rely on social media and online platforms for their livelihood, which creates pressure to monetize their work. The union’s definition of an influencer focuses on advertisers-sponsored content produced and released by the influencer themselves. This narrow definition caused further confusion and misinterpretation among cosplayers.
In conclusion, the Photo-op and gathering organized by Larry Poole during the Friday of San Diego Comic-Con served as a powerful display of solidarity among local SAG-AFTRA members, WGA members, and cosplayers. It aimed to support the striking members in Los Angeles and New York, and to emphasize the importance of fair wages, job security, and healthcare benefits. While the strike guidelines created some controversy within the cosplay community, efforts were made to clarify the guidelines and address concerns. The focus remained on the larger goal of achieving better conditions for all members of the industry.
