Lights, camera, strike: Members of SAG-AFTRA rally in Chicago

CHICAGO - Hundreds of movie workers mobilized at Buckingham Fountain for a strike rally Thursday.

Many wore Screen Actors Guild t-shirts and called out the film production studios that have brought Hollywood to a standstill.

The crowd was fired up and leaders of SAG-AFTRA voted unanimously last week to start striking, joining the Writers Guild of America, who walked out two months ago.

Key issues for union members include residual payments that have been nearly wiped out by the switch streaming services and the unpaid use of their work and likeness by artificial intelligence avatars.

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Shows like Chicago Med, Chicago PD and The Chi have all stopped filming until the strike is resolved. 

Courtney Rioux, an actress from the show Chicago Med, spoke out about the work stoppage.

"We are asking for, for a fair wage, especially in streaming residuals. If you're on a streaming show, you get $1 checks, right? How many of you get $1 checks for your streaming. We are asking that you don't scan our body for half a day's pay, actually, half a day's pay is what they ask for and use it forever, we will be replaced, we are fighting for the survival of our industry," said Rioux.

The unions and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios, streamers and production companies, seem far apart, with no negotiations happening or planned.