The ongoing labor strikes by the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America have brought production in Hollywood to a halt. However, amidst this turmoil, filming for the fourth season of “The Chosen,” a historical drama series about Jesus Christ created by Dallas Jenkins, has continued. Unlike other projects, “The Chosen” is not associated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, allowing it to operate despite the strikes.
According to Deadline, SAG-AFTRA has granted “The Chosen” an exemption, considering it a “truly independent” production. This exemption allows the show to proceed with filming its fourth season while other productions remain on hold. The decision comes after Deadline previously faced criticism for misrepresenting an actor’s thoughts about the strike, to which they subsequently apologized.
Before the strike officially began, Dallas Jenkins expressed doubts about obtaining an exemption for “The Chosen” through a tweet from the show’s official Twitter account. He later addressed SAG-AFTRA directly on Instagram, stating that the show met all the qualifications for an exemption and urged the union to approve their application so the actors could continue working.
Initially, it was expected that the cast of “The Chosen” would be dismissed from set while certain non-actor-dependent filming continued. However, the show’s exemption was approved, and full filming resumed the following day. SAG-AFTRA and “The Chosen” have not released official statements regarding the exemption, while the majority of the union’s actors continue to strike. “The Chosen” is the first ongoing project to successfully secure a production pass by not being affiliated with the AMPTP, the trade association representing the studios that have not met the demands of striking workers.
SAG-AFTRA announced its plans to grant “Interim Agreements” to independent producers who are not part of the AMPTP. However, the terms of the agreement have not been posted on the union’s website as of now. “The Chosen,” which started as an independently produced short film, garnered significant crowdfunding for its series adaptation. It is produced by Angel Studios, known for their faith-based entertainment projects. This independence may have contributed to “The Chosen” receiving an exemption.
Although “The Chosen” has always been available to watch for free through its official app, it has also entered distribution deals with Lionsgate and appeared on streaming platforms like Amazon, Netflix, and Peacock. The CW recently acquired the distribution rights to the first three seasons and began airing the show. The future of the currently shooting fourth season remains uncertain, but it will be intriguing to see how other productions resume filming as the SAG-AFTRA strike persists.
Disclaimer: The Verge’s editorial staff is also affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East.
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