HBO released this statement, saying:
"The document that the background actors were given was created by an outside extras casting vendor. It was not requested, written or approved by HBO, Warner Bros. Television, or the producers, and contains situations that we do not require of any actor. We are rectifying immediately the discrepancies in this vendor's document with our actual on-set practices, which provide a professional and comfortable working environment for all performers."
SAG-AFTRA released a statement of their own, not holding back some hard feelings:
"SAG-AFTRA sent the consent form to HBO yesterday afternoon and requested that the document be changed to more accurately reflect the contractual provisions. HBO had every opportunity to rectify this situation and it was only after their direct refusal to remedy this that we posted the notice on our website. The Union is very pleased to hear that HBO is doing the right thing now, but it is disappointing that we had to take such public measures to ensure compliance with our contracts and protect our background actors."
If anything, besides hoping that this matter gets resolved to everyone's satisfaction, it will, no doubt, pique curiosity and interest in the upcoming series.
