Actors have been given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year because of the Hollywood strike. The actors’ union, Sag-Aftra, told its members not to dress up as characters from big shows and movies because it would support the studios they are arguing with. Instead, the union suggests that actors choose costumes like ghosts, zombies, or spiders. They can also dress up as characters from animated TV shows. The goal is to show the studios that actors won’t promote their content without a fair contract.

The actors’ strike has been going on for almost 100 days and has stopped most production in the industry. The argument is about actors wanting more money, a share of streaming money, and protection against their images and voices being copied by artificial intelligence. The latest negotiations didn’t go well, with studios saying they weren’t making progress. To try and fix things, a group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, suggested that higher earners should pay more in union fees. This could bring in $50 million a year and help bridge the gap between what the union wants and what the studios are offering.

The union is thankful for the support and ideas from its successful members, but they want to make it clear that the suggestion isn’t about the current contract or bargaining. They also said that the suggestion goes against federal labor law and doesn’t address the whole package. The strike will continue until actors get the justice, fairness, and recognition they deserve for their work in the industry.

In other news, a similar strike by scriptwriters was resolved last month after 148 days. We don’t know what will happen with the actors’ strike yet, but the Halloween costume rules remind us of the ongoing argument and how determined actors are to fight for their rights.

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:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Ask the groups to read the article and discuss the main points.
4. Instruct each group to create a concise summary of the article, focusing on the key details and arguments.
5. Have each group present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think actors should be allowed to dress up as characters from big shows and movies for Halloween?”
3. Instruct the groups to discuss and share their opinions on each question.
4. Have each group present their opinions to the class, encouraging them to explain their reasoning.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to create a list of pros and cons for the actors’ strike.
3. After discussing and brainstorming, have each group present their lists to the class.
4. Encourage class discussion and debate, allowing students to share their opinions and counterarguments.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions:
1. Write a key vocabulary word from the article on the board, leaving out some of the letters.
2. Have the class work together to guess the missing letters and complete the word.
3. Once the word is completed, ask students to define the word and explain its significance in relation to the article.
4. Repeat this process with other key vocabulary words from the article.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Ask each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of the actors’ strike.
3. Have each group present their predictions to the class, explaining their reasoning.
4. Encourage class discussion and debate, allowing students to challenge and respond to each other’s predictions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are actors being given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year?
2. What types of costumes does the actors’ union suggest actors choose instead of characters from big shows and movies?
3. How long has the actors’ strike been going on?
4. What are some of the things that actors are arguing for in the strike?
5. What did a group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, suggest to try and fix things in the strike?
6. How does the union feel about the support and ideas from its successful members?
7. What happened with a similar strike by scriptwriters last month?
8. What do the Halloween costume rules remind us of?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Actors have been given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year because of the Hollywood (1)______. The actors’ union, Sag-Aftra, told its members not to dress up as characters from big shows and movies because it would support the (2)______ they are arguing with. Instead, the union (3)______ that actors choose costumes like (4)______, zombies, or spiders. They can also dress up as characters from animated TV shows. The goal is to show the studios that actors won’t promote their content without a fair contract.

The actors’ strike has been going on for almost 100 days and has (5)______ most production in the industry. The argument is about actors wanting more (6)______, a share of streaming money, and protection against their (7)______ and (8)______ being copied by artificial intelligence. The latest negotiations didn’t go well, with studios saying they weren’t making progress. To try and fix things, a group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, suggested that (9)______ earners should pay more in union fees. This could bring in $50 million a year and help bridge the gap between what the union wants and what the studios are offering.

The union is thankful for the support and (10)______ from its successful (11)______, but they want to make it clear that the suggestion isn’t about the (12)______ contract or bargaining. They also said that the suggestion goes against federal labor law and doesn’t address the whole package. The strike will continue until (13)______ get the justice, fairness, and recognition they deserve for their work in the industry.

In other news, a similar strike by scriptwriters was resolved last (14)______ after 148 days. We don’t know what will happen with the actors’ strike yet, but the Halloween costume rules (15)______ us of the (16)______ argument and how determined actors are to fight for their rights.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is the Hollywood strike and why are actors participating in it?
2. How do you think the Halloween costume rules will help the actors’ cause?
3. Do you think it is fair for actors to want a share of streaming money? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if your image or voice was copied by artificial intelligence without your permission?
5. Do you think it is a good idea for higher earners to pay more in union fees? Why or why not?
6. How do you think the $50 million from higher union fees could help bridge the gap between actors and studios?
7. Why do you think the union wants to make it clear that the suggestion about union fees is not about the current contract or bargaining?
8. How would you feel if you were an actor and had to go on strike for almost 100 days?
9. Do you think it is important for actors to fight for justice, fairness, and recognition in the industry? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the resolved scriptwriters’ strike last month might affect the actors’ strike?
11. How do you think the ongoing strike will impact the entertainment industry as a whole?
12. Do you think the actors’ strike will be successful in achieving their goals? Why or why not?
13. What are some other ways actors could try to negotiate with the studios besides going on strike?
14. How do you think the strike will affect the release of new movies and TV shows?
15. What do you think the future holds for the actors’ strike?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. costumes
2. studios
3. characters
4. contract
5. negotiations
6. support
7. justice
8. rights

Meanings:
(a) Fairness and equality in treatment
(b) People portrayed in movies, TV shows, or books
(c) Discussions or talks to reach an agreement
(d) An agreement between two parties
(e) Entitlements or freedoms that belong to someone
(f) Companies that produce movies and TV shows
(g) Assistance or backing for a cause or person
(h) Outfits worn for Halloween or performances
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why have actors been given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year?
(a) To promote big shows and movies
(b) To show support for the actors’ strike
(c) To discourage actors from dressing up
(d) To protect the studios they are arguing with

2. What costumes are actors encouraged to wear for Halloween?
(a) Ghosts, zombies, and spiders
(b) Characters from big shows and movies
(c) Superheroes and villains
(d) Animals and mythical creatures

3. How long has the actors’ strike been going on?
(a) Almost 100 days
(b) Over a year
(c) A few weeks
(d) Less than a month

4. What are the actors arguing for in the strike?
(a) Better costumes for Halloween
(b) Higher union fees for higher earners
(c) Recognition for their work in the industry
(d) More money, a share of streaming money, and protection against AI copying

5. What did a group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, suggest to help bridge the gap between the union and the studios?
(a) The studios should offer more money to the actors
(b) The actors should lower their demands
(c) The strike should end immediately
(d) Higher earners should pay more in union fees

6. What does the union say about the suggestion made by George Clooney’s group?
(a) It is a fair and reasonable solution
(b) It will lead to a resolution of the strike
(c) It doesn’t address the whole package and goes against labor law
(d) It is about the current contract and bargaining

7. What happened with the scriptwriters’ strike?
(a) It is still ongoing
(b) It was resolved last month after 148 days
(c) It lasted for over a year
(d) The details are unknown

8. How determined are actors to fight for their rights?
(a) Not determined at all
(b) Somewhat determined
(c) Very determined
(d) It is unclear

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The actors’ union, Sag-Aftra, told its members not to dress up as characters from big shows and movies because it would support the studios they are arguing with.
2. The goal is to show the studios that actors won’t promote their content without a fair contract.
3. Actors have not been given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year because of the Hollywood strike.
4. A group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, did not suggest that higher earners should pay more in union fees to help bridge the gap between what the union wants and what the studios are offering.
5. The actors’ strike has been going on for almost 100 days and has stopped most production in the industry.
6. The argument is not about actors wanting more money, a share of streaming money, and protection against their images and voices being copied by artificial intelligence.
7. Actors cannot dress up as characters from animated TV shows.
8. Instead, the union suggests that actors choose costumes like ghosts, zombies, or spiders.
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 being given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year?
2. What are some costume ideas that the actors’ union suggests for Halloween?
3. How long has the actors’ strike been going on for?
4. What are some of the things that the actors are arguing for in their strike?
5. Who suggested that higher earners should pay more in union fees to help bridge the gap between what the union wants and what the studios are offering?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are actors being given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year?
Actors are being given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year because of the ongoing Hollywood strike. The actors’ union wants to make sure that actors don’t dress up as characters from big shows and movies because it would support the studios they are arguing with.

2. What types of costumes does the actors’ union suggest actors choose instead of characters from big shows and movies?
The actors’ union suggests that actors choose costumes like ghosts, zombies, or spiders. They can also dress up as characters from animated TV shows.

3. How long has the actors’ strike been going on?
The actors’ strike has been going on for almost 100 days.

4. What are some of the things that actors are arguing for in the strike?
Actors are arguing for more money, a share of streaming money, and protection against their images and voices being copied by artificial intelligence.

5. What did a group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, suggest to try and fix things in the strike?
A group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, suggested that higher earners should pay more in union fees. This could bring in $50 million a year and help bridge the gap between what the union wants and what the studios are offering.

6. How does the union feel about the support and ideas from its successful members?
The union is thankful for the support and ideas from its successful members, but they want to make it clear that the suggestion isn’t about the current contract or bargaining. They also said that the suggestion goes against federal labor law and doesn’t address the whole package.

7. What happened with a similar strike by scriptwriters last month?
A similar strike by scriptwriters was resolved last month after 148 days.

8. What do the Halloween costume rules remind us of?
The Halloween costume rules remind us of the ongoing argument between actors and studios and how determined actors are to fight for their rights.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) strike
(2) studios
(3) suggests
(4) ghosts
(5) stopped
(6) money
(7) images
(8) voices
(9) higher
(10) ideas
(11) members
(12) current
(13) actors
(14) month
(15) remind
(16) ongoing
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. costumes
Answer: (h) Outfits worn for Halloween or performances

2. studios
Answer: (f) Companies that produce movies and TV shows

3. characters
Answer: (b) People portrayed in movies, TV shows, or books

4. contract
Answer: (d) An agreement between two parties

5. negotiations
Answer: (c) Discussions or talks to reach an agreement

6. support
Answer: (g) Assistance or backing for a cause or person

7. justice
Answer: (a) Fairness and equality in treatment

8. rights
Answer: (e) Entitlements or freedoms that belong to someone
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why have actors been given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year?
Answer: (b) To show support for the actors’ strike

2. What costumes are actors encouraged to wear for Halloween?
Answer: (a) Ghosts, zombies, and spiders

3. How long has the actors’ strike been going on?
Answer: (a) Almost 100 days

4. What are the actors arguing for in the strike?
Answer: (d) More money, a share of streaming money, and protection against AI copying

5. What did a group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, suggest to help bridge the gap between the union and the studios?
Answer: (d) Higher earners should pay more in union fees

6. What does the union say about the suggestion made by George Clooney’s group?
Answer: (c) It doesn’t address the whole package and goes against labor law

7. What happened with the scriptwriters’ strike?
Answer: (b) It was resolved last month after 148 days

8. How determined are actors to fight for their rights?
Answer: (c) Very determined
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The actors’ union, Sag-Aftra, told its members not to dress up as characters from big shows and movies because it would support the studios they are arguing with. (Answer: True)
2. The goal is to show the studios that actors won’t promote their content without a fair contract. (Answer: True)
3. Actors have not been given strict rules about their Halloween costumes this year because of the Hollywood strike. (Answer: False)
4. A group of famous actors, led by George Clooney, did not suggest that higher earners should pay more in union fees to help bridge the gap between what the union wants and what the studios are offering. (Answer: False)
5. The actors’ strike has been going on for almost 100 days and has stopped most production in the industry. (Answer: True)
6. The argument is not about actors wanting more money, a share of streaming money, and protection against their images and voices being copied by artificial intelligence. (Answer: False)
7. Actors cannot dress up as characters from animated TV shows. (Answer: False)
8. Instead, the union suggests that actors choose costumes like ghosts, zombies, or spiders. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧