SAG-AFTRA has rescinded its “do not work” order for the pandemic thriller “Songbird” produced by Michael Bay.
The artists union made the announcement Friday on its website, a day after telling its members not to work on the project: “SAG-AFTRA has rescinded its order not to work for the feature film ‘Songbird, produced by On a Lark Productions, LLC, and the members are free to work on this production with immediate effect. “
SAG-AFTRA did not provide further details. “Songbird” was announced in mid-May as a low-budget production to be shot in Los Angeles. SAG-AFTRA said Thursday that the company had not completed the signing process and had not signed any applicable SAG-AFTRA agreements. A spokesperson said the producers had not been transparent about their security protocols, adding: “That is something that we obviously take very seriously.”
SAG-AFTRA also warned members on Thursday that they could be disciplined if they worked on “Songbird.”
“Songbird” is a near future narrative produced by Bay with Adam Goodman’s Invisible Narratives and Catchlight Studios. Adam Mason directs from a script he wrote with Simon Boyes. The story unfolds two years into a future in which the pandemic has not disappeared as the virus continues to mutate. ICM Partners and Endeavor teamed up to sell “Songbird” at the Virtual Market in Cannes last month.
The producers have not responded to a request for comment on SAG-AFTRA’s announcement. “Songbird” is one of the first titles to go into production in Los Angeles since the COVID-19 crisis closed production in March.
