Jessica Chastain says she was ‘very nervous’ about promoting Memory at Venice Film Festival amid SAG-AFTRA strike

Actor Jessica Chastain made an impassioned plea to American actors at the Venice Film Festival press conference for Michel Franco’s drama Memory, imploring them to encourage indie films, reported Variety.

“I was very nervous about coming,” said Jessica— who was wearing a black SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) on Strike T-Shirt, revealing that “there were actually some people on my team who advised me against it”.

Jessica then said that actors are, “often made to keep quiet in order to protect future working opportunities, and we are often told and reminded how grateful we should be. And that is the environment that I think has allowed work to be abused, to go unchecked for many decades. And is also the environment that has saddled members of our union with unfair contracts”.

As per Variety, since Memory obtained an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA, Jessica and co-star Peter Sarsgaard were present at the press conference. “I am here because SAG-AFTRA has been explicitly clear that the way to support the strike is to post on social media, walk the picket line and to work and support interim agreement projects,” she said. “It’s what our national board, negotiating committee and our elected leadership has asked us to do.”

Jessica continued, “The independent producers, like the ones here, are letting the AMPTP know that actors deserve fair compensation, that AI protection should be implemented, and there should be sharing of streaming revenues. I hope my being here today encourages other independent producers, and encourages actors to show up [at festivals] and support our union members. Hopefully we will see an end to the strike soon and hopefully AMPTP will go back to the table.”

Memory, directed and written by Michel, is about Sylvia (Jessica), a “social worker who leads a simple and structured life,” according to the film’s synopsis. “This is shattered when Peter (Sarsgaard) follows her home from their high school reunion. Their unexpected encounter will have a tremendous influence on each of them as they open the door to the past.”

In an interview with Variety, Michel said of casting Jessica in the film: “Jessica is possibly the best actress in the states right now, it’s not an exaggeration to say she’s the best actress in the world.”

Mexican auteur Michel’s last two films, New Order (2020) and Sundown (2021), both premiered at Venice. Art thriller New Order was awarded the festival’s grand jury prize. Jessica, who won best actress at the Oscars last year for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, last had a film premiere at Venice in 2011 with Texas Killing Fields, reported Variety.