Actors in Hollywood have been told what they can and can’t wear for Halloween because of a strike. The actors’ group, Sag-Aftra, told them not to dress up as characters from big TV shows and movies. This is because it would help the studios they are fighting with. They were told to dress up as things like ghosts, zombies, and spiders, or characters from shows that are not part of the strike. The strike has been going on for almost 100 days because the actors want more money and a part of the money made from online shows.
The actors were given rules about their Halloween costumes because of the strike. Sag-Aftra told them not to dress up as characters from big TV shows and movies. They were told to dress up as things like ghosts, zombies, and spiders, or characters from shows that are not part of the strike. The strike has been going on for almost 100 days because the actors and the studios can’t agree on things like more money and a part of the money made from online shows.
The strike is not ending soon because the actors and the studios can’t agree. The talks stopped last week because the studios said they were not going well. Some famous actors, like George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, and Scarlett Johansson, suggested that actors who make more money should pay more to the group. But, the group said this idea is not part of the current talks and is not allowed by the law. The strike will keep going for “as long as it takes,” according to Sag-Aftra.
Original news source: Striking actors given strict Halloween costume rules (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. Encourage them to use complete sentences and practice their speaking skills.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 10-15 vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Divide the students into pairs or small groups. One student from each group will come to the front and select a word. They must then draw a picture to represent the word while their group tries to guess what it is. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary and encourages communication.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students create catchy headlines for the article. The headlines should summarize the main idea in a concise and attention-grabbing way. After they come up with their headlines, they can share them with the class and discuss why they chose certain words or phrases.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Have students take a few minutes to think about and write down their opinions on the strike and the actors’ Halloween costume rules. Then, they will pair up with their partner and discuss their thoughts. Afterward, open up a class discussion where students can share their ideas and opinions.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and make predictions about what will happen next in the strike. Will the actors get what they want? Will the strike end soon? Encourage students to use their imagination and support their predictions with reasons. Then, each group can share their predictions with the class and compare their ideas.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why were actors in Hollywood told what they can and can’t wear for Halloween?
2. What were the actors told not to dress up as for Halloween?
3. What were the actors told they could dress up as for Halloween?
4. How long has the strike been going on for?
5. Why is the strike not ending soon?
6. What did some famous actors suggest about paying money to the group?
7. How long will the strike keep going for, according to Sag-Aftra?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Actors in Hollywood have been told what they can and can’t wear for Halloween because of a (1)______. The actors’ group, Sag-Aftra, told them not to dress up as characters from big TV (2)______ and movies. This is because it would help the studios they are fighting with. They were told to dress up as things like (3)______, zombies, and spiders, or characters from shows that are not part of the strike. The strike has been going on for almost 100 days because the actors want more money and a part of the money made from online shows.
The actors were (4)______ rules about their Halloween costumes because of the strike. Sag-Aftra told them not to (5)______ up as characters from big TV shows and movies. They were told to dress up as (6)______ like ghosts, (7)______, and spiders, or (8)______ from shows that are not part of the strike. The strike has been going on for almost 100 days because the actors and the studios can’t agree on things like more (9)______ and a part of the money made from online shows.
The strike is not ending soon because the actors and the studios can’t agree. The talks stopped last week because the (10)______ said they were not going well. Some famous actors, like George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, and Scarlett Johansson, suggested that actors who make more money should pay more to the (11)______. But, the group said this idea is not part of the current talks and is not (12)______ by the law. The strike will keep going for “as long as it takes,” according to Sag-Aftra.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is Halloween?
2. How would you feel if you were told what you could and couldn’t wear for Halloween?
3. Do you like dressing up as characters from TV shows and movies for Halloween? Why or why not?
4. What are some other things you could dress up as for Halloween?
5. What is a strike?
6. How would you feel if you were part of a strike and couldn’t work for a long time?
7. Do you think actors should get more money? Why or why not?
8. What are online shows? Do you watch any online shows?
9. How would you feel if you were not allowed to dress up as characters from big TV shows and movies for Halloween?
10. Do you think it’s fair for actors who make more money to pay more to the group? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn’t agree with someone? How did you handle it?
12. How important do you think it is for people to stand up for what they believe in, even if it means going on strike? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Halloween
2. strike
3. costumes
4. characters
5. shows
6. money
7. actors
8. studios
Meanings:
(a) When people refuse to work because they want something
(b) The companies that make movies and TV shows
(c) A holiday where people dress up in costumes
(d) TV programs or movies that people watch
(e) People who pretend to be someone else in movies or plays
(f) The thing that people use to buy things
(g) The people in a story or movie
(h) Clothes that people wear to look like someone or something else
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why were actors in Hollywood given rules about their Halloween costumes?
(a) Because it’s a tradition
(b) Because they wanted to have fun
(c) Because of a strike
(d) Because they were bored
2. What were actors told not to dress up as for Halloween?
(a) Ghosts and zombies
(b) Characters from big TV shows and movies
(c) Spiders and insects
(d) Characters from small TV shows and movies
3. How long has the strike been going on?
(a) Almost 1 year
(b) Almost 10 days
(c) Almost 100 days
(d) Almost 1000 days
4. What do the actors want from the studios?
(a) More vacation time
(b) More costumes for Halloween
(c) More fame and recognition
(d) More money and a part of the money made from online shows
5. Why did the talks between the actors and the studios stop?
(a) Because they ran out of time
(b) Because the actors didn’t want to continue
(c) Because the studios were too busy
(d) Because they were not going well
6. Who suggested that actors who make more money should pay more to the group?
(a) George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, and Scarlett Johansson
(b) The studios
(c) Sag-Aftra
(d) The government
7. Is the idea of actors who make more money paying more part of the current talks?
(a) No, it’s not allowed by the law
(b) Yes, it’s the main focus of the talks
(c) No, it’s not important to the actors
(d) Yes, it’s the studios’ demand
8. How long will the strike continue?
(a) Until next Halloween
(b) “As long as it takes,” according to Sag-Aftra
(c) Until the studios agree to the actors’ demands
(d) Until the actors find new jobs
True or False Questions:
1. Actors in Hollywood have been given rules about what they cannot wear for Halloween because of a strike.
2. The strike is ending soon because the actors and the studios can agree on things like less money and no share of online show profits.
3. Famous actors like George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, and Scarlett Johansson suggested that actors who make more money should pay more to the group, but this idea is not part of the current talks and is not allowed by the law.
4. Instead, the actors were told to dress up as things like ghosts, zombies, and spiders, or characters from shows that are not part of the strike.
5. The reason for this rule is because it would harm the studios they are fighting with.
6. According to Sag-Aftra, the strike will continue for “as long as it takes.”
7. The actors’ group, Sag-Aftra, told them not to dress up as characters from popular TV shows and movies.
8. The strike has been happening for almost 100 days because the actors want less money and no share of the money made from online shows.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. Why are actors in Hollywood being told what they can and can’t wear for Halloween?
2. What are some examples of costumes that the actors are allowed to wear?
3. How long has the strike been going on?
4. Why did the talks between the actors and the studios stop?
5. What did some famous actors suggest as a solution to the strike?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Why were actors in Hollywood told what they can and can’t wear for Halloween?
Because of a strike.
2. What were the actors told not to dress up as for Halloween?
They were told not to dress up as characters from big TV shows and movies.
3. What were the actors told they could dress up as for Halloween?
They were told they could dress up as things like ghosts, zombies, and spiders, or characters from shows that are not part of the strike.
4. How long has the strike been going on for?
Almost 100 days.
5. Why is the strike not ending soon?
Because the actors and the studios can’t agree on things like more money and a part of the money made from online shows.
6. What did some famous actors suggest about paying money to the group?
They suggested that actors who make more money should pay more to the group.
7. How long will the strike keep going for, according to Sag-Aftra?
“For as long as it takes.”
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) strike
(2) shows
(3) ghosts
(4) given
(5) dress
(6) things
(7) zombies
(8) characters
(9) money
(10) studios
(11) group
(12) allowed
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Halloween
Answer: (c) A holiday where people dress up in costumes
2. strike
Answer: (a) When people refuse to work because they want something
3. costumes
Answer: (h) Clothes that people wear to look like someone or something else
4. characters
Answer: (g) The people in a story or movie
5. shows
Answer: (d) TV programs or movies that people watch
6. money
Answer: (f) The thing that people use to buy things
7. actors
Answer: (e) People who pretend to be someone else in movies or plays
8. studios
Answer: (b) The companies that make movies and TV shows
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why were actors in Hollywood given rules about their Halloween costumes?
Answer: (c) Because of a strike
2. What were actors told not to dress up as for Halloween?
Answer: (b) Characters from big TV shows and movies
3. How long has the strike been going on?
Answer: (c) Almost 100 days
4. What do the actors want from the studios?
Answer: (d) More money and a part of the money made from online shows
5. Why did the talks between the actors and the studios stop?
Answer: (d) Because they were not going well
6. Who suggested that actors who make more money should pay more to the group?
Answer: (a) George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, and Scarlett Johansson
7. Is the idea of actors who make more money paying more part of the current talks?
Answer: (a) No, it’s not allowed by the law
8. How long will the strike continue?
Answer: (b) “As long as it takes,” according to Sag-Aftra
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Actors in Hollywood have been given rules about what they cannot wear for Halloween because of a strike. (Answer: False)
2. The strike is ending soon because the actors and the studios can agree on things like less money and no share of online show profits. (Answer: False)
3. Famous actors like George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, and Scarlett Johansson suggested that actors who make more money should pay more to the group, but this idea is not part of the current talks and is not allowed by the law. (Answer: True)
4. Instead, the actors were told to dress up as things like ghosts, zombies, and spiders, or characters from shows that are not part of the strike. (Answer: True)
5. The reason for this rule is because it would harm the studios they are fighting with. (Answer: False)
6. According to Sag-Aftra, the strike will continue for “as long as it takes.” (Answer: True)
7. The actors’ group, Sag-Aftra, told them not to dress up as characters from popular TV shows and movies. (Answer: True)
8. The strike has been happening for almost 100 days because the actors want less money and no share of the money made from online shows. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
