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“The Chosen” Receives SAG Waiver Allowing Filming to Continue Amid Strike Situation

The Chosen | Image via Mike Kubeisy

A miraculous turn of events has unfolded for a prominent Hollywood show, allowing it to proceed with its production alongside the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Interestingly, this development holds significant advantages not only for the creators but also for those captivated by the narrative of Jesus.

The masterminds behind the renowned television series “The Chosen,” centered around Christian themes, revealed on Sunday that they have been granted permission to continue their project. This includes the participation of their core cast members, many of whom belong to the actors’ union. Remarkably, this makes “The Chosen” the first production to receive such a fortunate opportunity.

The rationale behind their ability to continue filming despite the shutdown of other major productions in the area lies in the waiver granted to them by the Screen Actors Guild. This waiver essentially exempts them from the filming restrictions imposed during the strike. The news was initially reported by Deadline.

The administrators of “The Chosen” Twitter account had earnestly implored SAG for leniency, fearing that they would be compelled to halt production in Utah, where they are currently engaged in shooting a new season. However, their concerns were alleviated as the waiver was swiftly granted within a remarkably short span of time. Thanks to this timely approval, they can proceed without significant disruption to their schedule.

Now, the reason behind their receipt of the waiver, while other productions remain in a holding pattern, is quite different from what one might assume. It’s not about exploiting any religious loophole, as some may speculate. On the contrary, it primarily hinges on the independent nature of the show or movie, meaning it lacks significant financial backing from major television or film studios.
“The Chosen” indeed boasts a grassroots origin, initially taking flight through crowdfunding efforts. However, it has gradually gained mainstream recognition, forging licensing agreements with prominent studios such as Netflix, Amazon, CW, Peacock, and various others.

Despite the strike, the filming will be allowed to continue. 

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Fharnell M.