Chuck Slavin Launches Reform Bid as Fran Drescher Reportedly Steps Aside in SAG-AFTRA Presidential Race

BOSTON - EntSun -- Boston, MA — Actor and New England Local Board representative Chuck Slavin, who recently announced his intention to seek the SAG-AFTRA National Presidency, said today that reports alleging Fran Drescher's decision not to pursue a third term highlight what he calls "the need for unmistakable change" within the union.  SAG-AFTRA insiders indicate that Sean Astin, who serves on the National Board, is reportedly preparing to run under Drescher's Unite for Strength banner.  Slavin described Astin as "a status-quo candidate," arguing that the current faction's tenure coincided with record-breaking production losses not only in Los Angeles but across the United States, and health-plan rules that, he said, "left even some of the union's most revered performers without coverage."

Recent FilmLA figures show on-location filming in Greater Los Angeles fell 22.4 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, with television shoot-days down 30 percent and feature production down nearly 29 percent; California's share of North-American production now stands at roughly 20 percent, its lowest level outside the 2020 shutdown.  National indicators mirror the slide: ProdPro's Q2 2024 Global Production Report found U.S. film-and-TV project starts were about 40 percent below pre-strike 2022 levels, roughly twice the global decline.  Ampere Analysis tallied 481 U.S. scripted series released in 2023, down 24 percent from the 2022 peak of 633, and research firm MoffettNathanson projects only 90 wide theatrical releases in 2024—about 30 percent fewer than in 2019.  Industry groups have urged expanded incentives and faster permitting; to date, union leadership has issued statements supporting dialogue but has not taken any concrete steps nor facilitated specific legislation.  Slavin added, "Sean Astin and Fran Drescher essentially played the fiddle while Rome burned.  Now they want another shot."

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The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan has faced similar scrutiny.  The late actress Shannen Doherty publicly appealed to Drescher in 2023 after losing coverage while undergoing stage-IV cancer treatment, saying long-time contributors were being "abandoned when they are unable to work."  In 2020 Hilary Swank sued the plan after it denied treatment for ovarian cysts, calling the policy "antiquated" and "barbaric"; the parties settled the case the following year.  A class action initiated by Secretary-Treasurer Candidate Peter Antico and led by the late Ed Asner on behalf of senior performers resulted in a $20.6 million settlement in 2023 over alleged age-based benefit cuts.  "These cases show how the current structure fails working members," Slavin said.

"In a time when the working actor has all but disappeared, how incredibly tone deaf to run a candidate who is the epitome of "Nepotism" and "Privilege". Sean Astin, the son of Star Patty Duke and Adam's family leadman John Astin, born into a life of Hollywood Privilege. "With a estimated net worth of over $20 million, on top of a likely exorbitant inheritance on account of his family's star-studded careers, how incredibly out of touch to run Sean Astin as the face of our struggling members around the country." Chuck Slavin added.

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To view Slavin's platform visit: UnionMemberNews.com